DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. Stephenie Meyer owns it all.

SETH POV

It was moments like this that I cursed being a Quileute. What predestined reason was there behind me being born into the tribe? I never minded before. I'm proud of the tribe of my forefathers and its history. But now I'm just bitter. And resentful. This is all new to me. I've never had these feelings before. Did I mention that Leah Clearwater is my sister and I've never been bitter before?

I mean, really…how can the rest of the tribe go along with all of this? This is not what our elders would have wanted. We're a peaceful people. At least we were until certain people started abusing their power. This is so beyond ridiculous. Now maybe I can't talk because I have yet to imprint and maybe this is one of those situations that you really have to go through firsthand to truly understand it. I have seen imprints happen a thousand times though and it was always true. Maybe it wasn't always smooth sailing, but it never felt forced or anything less than 1000% genuine affection. People got hurt in the process. Like I said, Leah is my sister and I know how hurt she was when Sam imprinted on someone else. He didn't mean it. It was destiny or fate or maybe even just some freak biological quirk we have yet to make sense of. I don't know. I don't want to know. I just hope that when it happens to me that I don't have to hurt anyone or break anyone's heart. Ha! Can you imagine me of all people being a heartbreaker? Stranger things have happened though.

Look at Jake and Nessie. We all felt for him when Bella went back to Edward. I can't even imagine how much he wanted to tear everything down and burn it all when he found out they were getting married. It was awesome to think that he would finally have some happiness when Nessie came along. It worked for a little while. The guy went through hell trying to keep her safe from those old vamps. He was my hero. I really looked up to him for following his heart. And I really looked up to him when he was able to go through everything with Bella and come out the other side being able to be friends (or whatever) with Edward. I know this makes people think I need my head examined, but I really like Edward. He's cool. He's a genius. He's always been really nice to me and on occasion lets me drive the Vanquish. Cullen even let me take Bella's Ferrari out once. He can cook too. But that all pales in comparison to the fact that vampire or not, he's a very nice guy and a gentleman. I could get exiled for saying this, but I kinda want be like him when I grow up. Dude, I know I sound crazy.

So it is definitely not cool what Jake is doing. Like I said, I really resent him now. Once he got a chance to breathe and everyone started to look to him as the true alpha again, he got greedy. He imprinted on this little girl and began to feel entitled to her love. Her attention. It wasn't always like that, but I guess he felt Bella and Edward (him especially) owed him and payment came in the form of their darling and much cherished daughter.

I would never turn my back on my tribe, but I'm with Edward on this one. I don't think this is a real imprint. If you love someone, you don't exactly groom them for a life of servitude. And you don't threaten the lives of their family when they stand up to you about the crappy way you treat their child. I wouldn't want that for my kid. Why would anyone?

Oh yeah, so like I said, I'm feeling really resentful of the tribe right now. It's mostly Jake who I can't stand anymore, but I can't believe how lame the rest of them are being by blindly following whatever Jake tells them to do. He's the leader for sure, but so are a lot of people who have no business being in charge. They are because of birth. Like the kings in Europe used to be with divine right and all that. Jake is like the Prince Charles of the Quileutes or something. Or whoever. I can't remember all their names. All I know is that he no longer has the best interest of either the tribe or Nessie in mind.

I really hate what is going on with all the intimidation of the Cullens and Charlie. Especially Charlie. I can't believe that Billy is allowing this. I mean, they almost killed the guy running him off the road. Oh yeah Jake, Nessie is really going to fall head over heels in love with you when you send your goons out to almost kill her family. Billy is just as bad for being so indulgent with Jake. I know Jake is his only son and all so you would think he would understand Edward's point of view. It's not as if he doesn't care for Nessie as well. He keeps pictures that she's drawn on his fridge. She drew her grandpa, herself and Billy on a fishing trip. So what the hell is he doing?

So you can imagine how forward I'm looking to tonight's tribal council meeting. Great! What other ways can we come up to scare the crap out of Nessie? On top of resenting the tribe, I am also worried about my mom. Charlie is her boyfriend and I wouldn't be surprised if they got married one day soon. That would make Nessie my niece and Bella and Edward would be my step sister and brother. What kind of world am I living in that I would welcome being related to a vampire over the brotherhood of my tribe? I take that back. I would be proud to have Edward as a brother. I'm secretly a little jealous of Emmett and Jasper. My brotherhood has made a mockery out of the Quileutes.

I'm just glad I'm in human form right now. I can't risk them hearing my thoughts in my wolf form. They have me so paranoid. I take a minute to clear my mind anyway before I open the door to the cultural center where these meetings are held. Finally, I enter the building and make my way to the multi-purpose room taking a seat on one of the benches near the back. Being this close to them makes me sick. If my father were alive to see all this, he would be ashamed. Leah sees me and walks over taking a seat next to me.

"What do you think they'll think of next?" she whispers. I just shake my head and look forward as Billy and some of the other elders call the meeting to order.

"Thank you all for coming to tonight's emergency meeting. We have an important development. One of Quil Ateara's cousins who works at Sea-Tac called to let us know that Edward, Bella and Nessie are due to land in about ten minutes in Seattle. Had we known earlier, we could have intercepted them at the airport. Now, we'll have to come up with another plan to return Nessie to us. We need to act quickly. Like in the next hour." Billy told the tribe.

Oh shit.

"The element of surprise is of the utmost importance. We need to get Edward and Bella alone and outnumbered. Nessie is still a little girl and we don't want to scare her by having her see her family get hurt or worse."

Or worse??? Is he fucking kidding me?

"So, while we are out taking care of this situation, we'll have to circle the wagons here at the reservation and make everyone stays close in case of retaliation."

I looked around the room expecting some outrage, people not expecting them to go this far, but everyone sat there stone-faced. Were we like the Stepford Quileutes or something? Leah was the only one as horrified as I was.

Billy continued, "We've already selected the group to welcome the Cullens home and the rest of you will stay here on the reservation."

I looked around the room and noticed that there were about seven others missing. And included in that group was Jake.

"I know there are a few of you who may disagree with the tribe's choice to be aggressive in this matter, but no one wants to see the alpha robbed of his imprint. So many of you understand the power of the bond between a Quileute and his imprint so you can agree that this matter of the alpha and his imprint being dealt with is currently the most critical and time-sensitive issue we face."

I got up and went to go to the door to leave. I had to get word to the Cullens and let them know what was going on.

Billy wasn't having any of this. "Seth, where do you think you're going?"

"I'm leaving."

Everyone watched the conversation as no one ever stormed out of meetings.

"Oh, no you're not. Boys!" Some of the newer pack members blocked the exits.

"What the…?"

Leah jumped up. "You can't keep him here against his will!"

Billy's eye narrowed and focused on Leah. "Seth is going to warn the Cullens. They need to be taken by surprise. Neither he nor YOU nor anyone else in this room is going anywhere until this is over. We'll stay here all night if we have to."

They were keeping all of us here???

I spoke up. "Whatever Billy! Even if you keep us here, my mom can still warn them!"

"Oh you stupid children. No one outside of this room knows what's happening. Your mother won't be calling anyone. She'll just go about her normal life. How disappointed your father would be if he knew that you were fraternizing with the enemy!"

"They are our friends! They've never done anything to us! You're the ones who have always been aggressive against the Cullens! They have NEVER given you any reason to attack. They never once broken the treaty! In fact, Jake was the one who did that. They've served the community of Forks more than anyone in this tribe has lately!"

Without realizing it, I had moved closer to the front of the room. "And the rest of you! How can you go along with this?!?! This is nonsense! Insanity! You are all so willing for an all out war because Jacob Black's imprint doesn't like him? Are you kidding me? Jacob is no alpha as far as I'm concerned. His judgment is clouded by delusions of grandeur!" Did I just say grandeur? Then I turned to Billy. "And don't you dare bring my father into this!"

"Your father understood not to go against the natural law of the Quileute tribe! You, Seth and let's not forget Leah, are an embarrassment. You think the Cullens are your friends? Believe me, if they got hungry and couldn't find any elk, they wouldn't hesitate to gulp down your blood. Don't kid yourselves! And when this is all over, we'll have no problem handing out punishments to those tribe members who cannot be counted on to support the tribe for the greater good! Now sit down and be quiet!"

His eyes moved from me to the rest of the tribe. "Anyone else have a problem with this?"

Not one person stood up or said anything at all. I looked at Leah who in turn looked at the ground. We were out numbered. I took my seat next to her.

What the hell was Jake going to do?

BELLA POV

Nessie did not sleep on the plane. She was practically bouncing out of her seat at the idea of seeing the family. I was excited for her, but apprehensive about the fight that we needed to prepare for. When and how that fight was going to happen, I did not know.

We pulled up in front of the mansion and Edward quickly got her unbuckled. As soon as he set her on the ground, she went running for the house. Alice was the first one through the door and she scooped Nessie up into her arms.

"Aunt Alice! Aunt Alice!"

"Sweetheart, I've missed you so much! You've gotten so big!"

Rosalie took her from Alice and swung her around. "Nessie!" Emmett put his arms around both of them enveloping them in a hug.

An hour later after many more heartfelt reunions, Nessie couldn't keep her eyes open. She didn't want to go though since she saw how injured Charlie was. I saw the fear creep back into her eyes. I picked her up and Edward got the bags. We decided that they would brief us tomorrow with everything that had happened. We bid everyone good night. Charlie was staying over again and was sleeping in Edward's old room. How things have changed.

A few minutes later, we arrived at the cottage. I put Nessie down on the ground and she ran to her room. Despite her insistence that she bring Fergus with us, she had forgotten him. She wanted to say hello.

A second later, Edward and I looked at each other. That was when we smelled it. Now, the cottage always smelled faintly like dog since Jake usually was around. However, even before we left, it had grown even fainter and now it was quite strong.

"NESSIE!!!!!!!"

We both ran to her room to find Jake holding Nessie in his arms with his huge hands covering her mouth. He was flanked by two other wolves and it sounded like there were more outside. Nessie's eyes were filled with tears as she struggled to get loose. Jake just looked at us and laughed.

"Don't even think about it. She's mine."

Thank you all so very much for all of the kind and encouraging reviews. I truly appreciate it and feel very lucky that you all took the time to read my story. As always, constructive criticism is appreciated. It all helps.