Chapter Ten – Where the Froggy Genes Land
Collin looked back at me anxiously, and I motioned for him to go forward. "Collin, do you even realize how much I am craving a taco? Just go get groceries, come back, and make me a damn taco!" I ordered in the most authoritative/imprint voice I could muster. He paused at the door, looking at me.
"Fine… but I called some of the other wolf girls to come in. I don't want something bad happening to you and Seth is out with Abby." Collin sighed. I glared at him a little before he edged a bit more out of the doorway.
After last night's sex session, we lulled slowly to a peaceful sleep, so peaceful that I didn't wake up until eleven in the morning. Our talks hadn't strayed too much from the baby since then, and it'd been a whole week since we settled on names.
Now, at the sound of the doorbell, Collin raced to get it, and I rolled my eyes in slight annoyance. The guy couldn't leave me alone in a room for more than ten seconds. I heard his footsteps, and then the creak of the door.
"Hey Emily, Lola, Cassie, and… Oh, Amanda. And you guys brought… your kids." Collin greeted, his voice lowering at the end. I groaned at this, resting my head in my hands. Jesus, I'm not in the mood for kids. Hell, I won't be until the suckers in my stomach are born! And even then, I probably won't be too thrilled.
"Don't worry, we told them to behave." I heard Emily say, voice lowered as well, yeah right, like the little devils can actually behave!
"Mother, I heard that!" I heard fifteen year old Jack's irritated voice call out. How could he have heard that? Huh, looks like we got a guy close to phasing.
"Ang is down the hall, to the right." Collin told them with a small snicker before leaving. I heard them as they made their way towards me before coming in. Their light banter made my stomach flip… would I be able to do that with my children?
Emily came in first, Janie in her arms and her and Sam's four year old John hugging her legs. Eight year old Jenny was following behind. Her expression was serious, and she had a black dress on, reaching down to her ankles. Jack came last, and you could noticeably see the changes in his height and, well, he had some muscle.
Jack's face was angry, his eyes black as coal as his father's. His mouth was smoothed into an angry line, his hands tucked in his arms as he leaned against the wall.
Lola came next with a very large, pregnant belly, three year old Peter toddling behind her. "Is he coming today, mommy?" Peter murmured, pressing his tiny hand to her stomach. Lola smiled, grabbing his hand to hold it softly.
"No, Hon, not for another two months. And remember I told you the baby is a girl…" she said with a role of her eyes.
Cassie entered then, ten year old Adam smirking at everyone as he entered next to her, two year old Brian trailing off his arm. As their aunt, I came to visit them often, and knew that Brian absolutely idolized Adam, who was a frequent trouble maker and took pleasure in torturing Yolanda Billson, who hated him with malice. Cassie was carrying one year old Maggie, my precious God-daughter.
"Aunta Anga!" she giggled, clapping her hands. I grinned as I reached out to hold her, cradling her close.
"Hey, sweet girl, how are you?" I said to her with a beam.
"Good." She mumbled before jumping back to her mother's arms, playing with her earrings.
And last was Amanda. She had a twin girl clinging to each of her arms, Lily and Lana. The almost seven year olds were dressed in matching outfits, the only way to tell them apart was the fact that Lily's hair was black, Lana's brown.
"Hey guys." I greeted them slightly uneasily. It was unfortunate, but I was not the best a keeping in touch with my former wolf sisters, or their children.
"Hey, everyone." I greeted all of them again with a smile, well the best smile I could muster at the moment. As they all settled in chairs around the room, Peter immediately ran to Jenny as soon as Lola let him go. Jennifer glanced at him before turning away, mumbling to herself. Lily held up her hands to take Maggie, and Cassie let her. Lily took her to a corner and started rocking her gently, humming a lullaby.
The rest stood awkwardly, especially Jack, who swayed and fumbled with every move he made. I sighed a bit, closing my eyes in disbelief.
"How, can you guys do it?" I asked slowly, trying to tune out the talking and giggles now filling the room. Emily and Amanda just looked at me like I was crazy, and then shook their heads.
"You'll know Angie. It's not going to be a pile of roses, but you'll love it. I know you, and I can guarantee it." Lola said cautiously, reaching out to touch my arm. I crossed my arms, glaring out the window. Jack's face was red, and he was slightly shaking with his hands now stuffed in his pockets.
"I love my kids, Ang. You will too." Emily reassured, reaching out to rub Jack's arm. He twitched away from it with an angry glare, turning away from us.
"Mother, tell me again why you made me come?" he asked, his voice heavy with annoyance. Emily sighed a little with a sad look, glancing at all of us.
"Jackson Erik Uley. I do not care if you are going to phase soon. I honestly don't. You will respect me, and the fact that I want you here to show Angie that kids grow up into wonderful teenagers. Right now, you are doing nothing to prove the point I am trying to get across." Emily said her voice strict and warning.
"Well, I am so very sorry mom." Jack hissed. His voice was almost patronizing, and Emily opened her mouth to reply, but I jumped in.
"Jack, you need to learn to not be such a fucking jackass… towards your mother, no less. Jeez, I lost my mom when I was your age, never even met my dad! All I had was freaking Embry, um, no offense Cassie. You need to learn to shut your mouth." As I finished my statement, the other wolf girls looked shocked, Emily's face a little angry, and all the other kids stunned. A silence settled in, even for the kids.
"Ooh! Aunt Angie swore!" Adam suddenly laughed, clapping his hands evilly. I blew through my nose, sending him a small glare, and then I turned, and noticed Jack.
He was shaking… and not just the angry, mild shaking of an experienced pack member. His edges were blurring, hands balled into tight, tight fists at his sides. Emily gasped, eyes wide, as she studied him.
"Jack, outside! Right now!" she screeched. He swallowed uncomfortably, looked around once, and then bolted out the door.
"Girls, please, watch Janie, John and Jenny?" Emily pleaded, holding Janie out to Amanda. She took her immediately, holding her close with a nod.
"Of course we will Em, been there, done that." Amanda sighed heavily, flipping her hand in the air sorrowfully. Emily grinned at them gratefully before bolting out the door.
"I need to call Sam!" she called, and there was a proud, almost excited tone in her voice. I could also hear a touch of sadness, but wasn't sure why.
"Crap, I need to call Collin, Jesse, Louis, and Jill!" I said, standing up. I had to phase and howl to them; there hadn't been a new pack member since myself, so I had absolutely no idea how to handle this…
"What? No! You're pregnant; you can't, under any circumstances." Amanda said sharply, jiggling Janie. "Call Collin's cell phone, and tell him to phase." She ordered. With extreme irritated, I fished for my phone before pressing six, which was his speed dial number. It barely started to ring the first time when Collin picked up.
"Hello? Angie, what is it? Is something wrong?" he asked voice sharp and already starting to panic. I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes.
"No, babe, I'm fine. It's Jack, he just bolted out the door because he's gonna phase. Emily's out there, by the forest's edge, probably trying to help, trying being the key word. Anyway, I need you to phase and call the other wolves to phase since I can't." I heard a sigh of relief on the other line before he spoke.
"Sure thing, babe. See you later and don't forget I love you." I could hear the smile in his voice, which made me smile as well.
"I love you too." I hung up slowly before putting the phone back in my pocket.
"Okay, everything's set." I said slowly, and Amanda nodded, turning away to slowly rock Janie.
I watched her intently. She was very slow and very assured as she moved, but I caught her sneaking glances at Lily and Lana and guessed that she was worried. I knew we all assumed that the pack kids wouldn't phase, since the Cullen's moved away even before I phased. But I suppose the magic was still strong in our descendant's blood.
But Amanda's view on phasing was hatred. She blamed it for everything bad in her life, including the death of Rickie, her first love. (Who was very weird by the way) It made her mother disappointed in her, and her father leave the family. Or so she believed.
Lola was looking quite dazed as she looked around, her eyes wide with wonder, whereas Cassie looked completely at ease, her legs folded across each other.
"So, does it always get this chaotic when someone phases?" Lola breathed, her eyes flashing.
"Yes, very much so. I was the thirteenth to join, so I experienced five other people phasing…" Amanda shivered lightly, "Of course, I phased on the same night as Louis. Hmm, that was the only double phasing, wasn't it?" Her eyebrows knitted together as she looked at all of us.
"Oh, no, Leah phased after hearing about Sam and Emily's engagement, and then Harry had his heart attack, and Seth phased the same day." Cassie suddenly thought.
"So, will Jack be the new alpha?" Lola thought aloud. My eyes widened as I stifled a groan.
"My god, yes. I'm going to have follow the order of a fifteen year old." I moaned softly, shaking my head in disbelief.
"Well, technically, you're like twelve, so wouldn't he be older?" Cassie smirked. I glared at her, knowing she knew I hated when people mentioned the age I was frozen at forever.
"I wonder if he'll imprint on anyone." Amanda suddenly spoke up, her gaze falling across her twin daughters. Lola and Cassie seemed to lose their breath as Lola glanced at her stomach, arms wrapping around it protectively.
Cassie and mine gazes focused on Maggie, who was sitting gleefully playing with Lily, her red hair bouncing around her.
"Well, I guess it depends on where the froggy genes landed." Lola said awkwardly, scratching the back of her head. I burst out laughing, shaking my head.
"Yeah, I suppose…" But then, I trailed off, looking down at my own stomach. My breath seemed to drag out of my body. My babies.
What if one of them was a girl and Jack imprinted on her? The thought sent me reeling. Anger filled me, and my hands shook. I balled them into fists, closing my eyes to calm myself.
I was startled by the protective feeling that'd overwhelmed me, it felt so natural. The beings in my stomach were so tiny; the notion that they'd find their soul mate that young scared me a little.
Though, when I thought about it, I guess I was being a bit of a hypocrite. I had pleaded to Embry for years about just accepting the imprint, and that there was nothing romantic about it when I was young.
But I still didn't want my daughter, if I had one, to be forced into a situation that she couldn't get out of. I loved Collin, and I wouldn't change anything, but it might be different for other people. I know some people might have been better off without them. I sighed a little at the thought.
I guess it all depends on where the froggy genes land.
Hey all and everyone! So here's the next chapter, hopefully ya'll are glad I managed to get it out so soon!
There were not a lot of reviews last chapter, so I hope everyone will take the time and do it this time! I really wanna know what people think of what's going on!
Thanks to all who read this! Of course, I couldn't have done it without my excellent beta, laurazuleta18! She got this back so super fast!
As always, TwilightHeart21