Blast from the Past
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-Thanks for the lovely reviews. I really appreciate them all. I have more study today so I am posting this early as I will be busy for a couple of days. This is a shout out to; Delsan13, Shalette, jeri252, tonyamic10, Tanja83, kimberleyannT, paige337, cullenfan5, rasheedah2907, sweetness4683, cloudshadow22, Nisah, kesha8195, notashamedtobe, Aussiegirl16, JacobB'sImprintee, scifiromance, TommyH, cmwillis, echo58, Melody-Rose-20, FallenGrace101, TeamJacobYeah, MandaRe, psychovampiefreak, viola1701e, BingQing and all the guest reviewers.
Part Twelve-Confrontation
"Are you okay now?" Bella asked in concern as Jacob struggled onto his feet. His skin was still very hot but not like the feverish temperatures it had been mere moments before.
As she said this another wolf's howl split the air, quickly followed by another and then another. Bella looked at Jacob in alarm as he stared over toward the forest surrounding his house. "Jake? Is it the pack?" She questioned him frantically.
He nodded, still gazing over toward the tree line. His forehead was creased and he seemed to be concentrating hard. Maybe he was hearing them in his head again, like before. She waited by his side as he continued to scan the horizon, his dark eyes flicking back and forth as if searching for something. More tension filled moments passed as they stood side by side staring off into the impenetrable trees. Bella became increasingly nervous.
"Jake, what's happening?" She begged him.
As soon as the words left her mouth he suddenly shoved her behind him, holding a finger to his lips in a hushing motion. "Do not speak whatever they say or do. Promise me Bells?" He demanded.
Bella just nodded having lost the power of speech. Her limited vision had at last seen the movement within the trees. Jacob must have been aware of it for some time. She stayed behind him as he waited and watched as his former pack emerged, one by one. Paul Lahote was the first, he strode confidently toward Jacob, an unfriendly expression on his face. Bella was shocked at just how tall and well built he had become. His stature had increased exponentially; probably due to his Alpha status. He now towered above Jacob.
Behind him the pack filed into view. Jared wore the same expression as Paul, he stood just behind his leader, arms crossed in an intimidating gesture. Embry and Quil took up positions on either side of him. Their faces registered surprise at seeing her just behind their friend, Embry gave her a quick reassuring smile and Quil just winked. Bella let out a long held breath, it seemed that Jacob's two best friends held no animosity toward her much to her relief. She wished the same could be said for Paul and Jared however.
The last to approach was Seth Clearwater, as soon as he caught sight of her a big grin lit up his face. "Bella, so it is true, you're back." He said happily. He immediately ran over to her and slipped past Jacob to engulf her in a bear hug. "How are you? You look well."
Bella was shocked at his exuberant greeting, she heard a low growl escape Jacob's chest and she shot him a warning glance. As soon as she regained her footing she smiled up at Seth. "I'm great thank you. How have you been? Where's Leah?" She asked politely.
Seth ran a hand through his sweat soaked hair as his smile grew ever wider. "She's at home with my niece. Didn't Jake mention her, Lee stopped phasing four years ago, she fell pregnant pretty quickly. Jaymie is now three and a precocious little madam." He laughed.
"Seth, get back here right now," Paul's voice thundered toward them, breaking Bella and Seth out of their spell.
Seth shot his leader an irritated glance. "There is no need for hostilities. I was just..."
"I said get back here now," Paul demanded again, the timbre of his voice changing.
Seth gave Bella a sad smile as he was forced to return to his brother's side. Jacob gave her a meaningful look and she backed away and stayed right behind him as he had requested previously.
"Why are you here, Lahote?" Jacob asked him, his voice cold. "I would have sought you out in my own time."
"Really?" Paul sneered. "Your allegiance was always toward the leech lover and not your pack. How dare you keep her return from us."
Jacob laughed bitterly. "You can't be doing your job properly if you didn't detect her scent yourself, Lahote. We haven't been in hiding."
Paul bristled at his tone, he marched toward Jacob so that they were face to face. "While you have been living the last few years under a rock feeling sorry for yourself, we have been out there keeping our home safe. Where she goes cold ones follow. Where is the damn leech she ran off and married? How can you bear to be near her after she was touched by one of their kind." He taunted him.
A deep growl erupted from Jacob's chest, he pushed hard on Paul's chest making him stumble back. "Do not dare to talk like that about Bella again." he seethed, his chest heaving with every breath he took. His limbs began to shake as fire licked up and down his spine. "You must have known she was back. Why take until now to approach us?"
Paul smiled sarcastically. "We have been caught up the last few days dealing with some particularly vicious rogue vampires. Funny how as soon as she reappears so do the leeches. Maybe she knows who they are? Well darlin' care to give us some insight?" He called over to Bella.
Jacob did not hesitate to slam his fist into Paul's face at his temerity for speaking to Bella in that way. "Get back in the house," he muttered to her. He was on the edge, close to phasing. His wolf was pushing him to teach Lahote a lesson for upsetting his imprint.
A sly smile crossed Paul's face as his eyes flicked between Jacob and Bella. "You are pathetic Black. You always were just a cast off in her eyes. Give it a week, she will drop you like a stone and be back in the leeches arms again." He jeered.
Nothing stopped Jacob this time, he phased instantly, bursting out of his clothes and landing on all four paws as he growled at Paul, his lips drawn over his sharp canines as he snarled. Heat took over his vision as he closed in on his target, his russet red fur standing up all along his back as he began to stalk Paul. The pack began to disband as Quil and Embry ran over to an alarmed Bella and began to tug her toward the house.
"Let me go," she struggled in their hold, but it was useless to fight she had no chance against their strength.
Seth hurriedly ran up to join them. "It's okay Bella, Jake will be fine. Paul taunted him on purpose. Jake needed to phase. It was only his anger that would fuel the change, you saw how he was struggling and the pain he was in. It's easier this way." He explained quickly.
More snarls erupted as Bella saw that Paul had now phased. The two large wolves circled each other staring intimidatingly before Jacob pounced on Paul and the fight began. She saw no more as Quil and Embry practically carried her into the house.
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"Momma," J cried as he saw her being carried by two muscle bound men into the house. He scrambled over to her side and aimed a kick at Quil for daring to place his hands on his mom.
Before his foot connected, Seth quickly picked up the child. "I wouldn't do that, little man. You could get hurt." He said jovially.
J glared at him, struggling in his arms. "Even Bigger Chief, get bad man." He yelled out.
Seth laughed. "Wow you're a feisty one. Just like my niece. I think I'll introduce you."
"It's alright sweetie," Bella made her voice sound calm as Quil and Embry placed her gently onto her feet. "See I'm fine, we were just playing a game. These are Super Jake's friends."
J closed one eye and regarded Seth intently. He stopped struggling and allowed Seth to carry him over to the sofa and place him on it. "What you called?" He asked.
Seth knelt down and grinned at him. "Seth." He announced.
J pouted. "Beff."
"No, Seth. S E T H." He spelled out for J.
"Beff," J repeated. He turned and looked over at Bella, a frown on his face. "Momma, why man got girlie name?" He demanded.
Quil and Embry burst into laughter as Seth stared at J in stunned silence. He knew that he had just earned himself a nickname. Quil and Embry were not going to let this one go.
XXXXXX
Bella placed the food and drinks on the table before sitting down in one of the chairs. Embry, Seth and Quil immediately tore into the food, taking great chunks as they broke into a friendly argument about who got to eat what. Bella was taken back in time to the first experience she had with the pack. It had been at Emily and Sam's house. Emily was obsessed with baking muffins and making the pack eat them. Although Jacob had confessed to her they tasted rancid, but they ate them out of politeness.
"This taste's awesome Bella. Jake always said you were a good cook." Quil said happily as he snatched some of Seth's food while he was distracted.
Bella smiled in amusement. "Well I am glad I was remembered for my cooking at least." She quipped.
"Oh no Bella, we remembered you for other things too," Seth said as he hit Quil on the back of the head making him choke on the food he had just stolen.
"What things?" She asked curiously.
Seth's face reddened as Quil and Embry burst into laughter. "You're better off not knowing Bella." Embry told her with a wink. He gulped down his drink and then patted his toned stomach in contentment.
"Right," Bella said uncertainly. Even though it was funny watching them eat she was worried about Jacob. Quil and Embry had seemed amused by her anxiety over Jacob's safety, telling her he could handle himself against Paul. It seems that it was a plan hatched by their Alpha to get Jacob to phase quickly. The only way they knew to anger him was by taunting him about her.
J appeared by Seth's side having got bored with the colouring books that Bella had used to distract him while she cooked. He tugged on Seth's arm so that he had to look down at him. "Hey little man. What you up to?" Seth greeted him.
"Beff, what other man's name?" J asked him.
Seth rolled his eyes as Quil and Embry began to snicker again. He reached down and placed him on the seat next to him. "No J it's Seth."
"I know, you tol' me." J pouted. "What their names?"
Seth sighed. "That loud mouth is Quil and that idiot is Embry." He pointed out.
Bella covered her mouth to hide her laughter as she watched her son's curious eyes assess Jacob's best friends. "Quilt and Ember." he announced after trying to wrap his lips around their complicated sounding names.
Seth laughed. "You are one cool kid, do you know that little man?" J beamed at this praise.
Bella giggled as Billy returned to the table and joined them. "Yep, J from now on these three stooges will always be known as Beff, Quilt and Ember."
"What's stooges?" He asked, stumbling over the word.
Billy picked J up and placed him on his lap. "Don't worry J. Want me to show you how to carve some wood?" He asked.
J bounced up and down. "Yeah, Even Bigger Chief." He said eagerly.
"Thank you," Bella mouthed to Billy. She watched as Billy left the room, explaining the finer points of wood carving to her excitable son.
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The atmosphere turned serious as soon as they were alone. Three pairs of curious eyes regarded Bella intently for a moment before Embry asked the inevitable. "So who is J's father then Bella?"
Bella sighed, thinking about J's birth brought the sad memories of her mothers last moments. Tears began to run down her cheeks and she hid her head in her hands so she wouldn't have to look at them.
"Bella are you alright?" Seth asked with concern as he exchanged worried glances with Embry and Quil.
"I'm okay, Seth," she said quietly. "It's just hard thinking about it. Please I will tell you everything, just let me talk, no interruptions."
They all nodded their heads and waited patiently while Bella spilled the sad tale of her mother's illness and subsequent decline.
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Seth had his arms around Bella as she sobbed on his shoulder. Talking about Renee had brought back dark memories. The only light had been J. With him to focus on and care for, she didn't know how she would have got through the days after her mother's death. She longed for Jacob to return, he was the only one who could make her feel better.
Right on cue, as if he sensed that she was upset, he ran through the door and shoved Seth out of the way so that he could hold a distraught Bella in his arms. She rested her head on his bare chest and let his warm presence comfort her.
"We're sorry, Jake," Embry apologised. "We shouldn't have made her tell us. We didn't expect anything like that."
Jacob glanced at his friends. "Can you leave us a moment? Wait for me outside. Paul's there with Jared." He said tiredly. His body ached from phasing between his human and wolf forms. But at the moment his priority was Bella as she sought comfort from the only person who ever truly understood.
A/N-Thanks for reading. More to come soon...