Thanks to all reviewers – you are the reason I continue with the story. I'm willing to accept reviews that are harsh as well – I don't mind, really!
After reading BD.. well, I kind of wonder if it's worth continuing the story, but I'll finish it anyway…
So, the story continues…
Chapter 14
I looked at Rachel – I was glad that I didn't have to re-explain everything to Rebecca as well. I was, in all honesty, surprised that Rachel and Rebecca hadn't started phasing, but they'd been away from the reservation – maybe not being near the leeches kept the recessive gene from activating. Whatever the cause, I had a feeling that Rachel would be better able to deal with the news that I was giving her much better than Rebecca ever would.
"Rachel, before I tell you what's going on, I'm going to recount one of our stories to you," I told her, quickly launching into the third wife story before she could respond.
At the end she looked at me, understanding dawning on her face.
"So the cold ones are real as well as the wolves?" she asked, perplexed. My sister was a brain, but sometimes she was so rational that she couldn't believe something unless someone showed it to her.
"Yes," I replied, "The Cullens are what the story refers to as 'cold ones' and the wolves…"
"Are descendants of Taha Aki," she replied, "Which means that you and Quil and Embry and Seth and Sam…" she trailed off, looking at me with something close to shock on her face.
"Yes," was my simple reply. What else could I say?
"Why haven't I changed at all?" she asked me.
"Maybe it's because you aren't around La Push," I said, "Or maybe it's because you're older than the rest of us and maybe the change can only happen before you're fully matured."
"Oh," she said, "You know, this would make the best scientific experiment? All we'd need is a blood sample and to isolate the gene that activates when you come to the point where you stop being a normal human and start being a werewolf. That would be so neat. What do you say? Wanna give it a shot? I can call up my friends at the biology lab at college – it would make a really interesting thesis for my Bachelor's degree."
"No, you can't tell anyone about this Rachel – absolutely nobody. I shouldn't have even told you, but now that I'm the alpha, I make the rules."
"You? An alpha male in a wolf pack? I'd have to see it to believe it," was her response before sulking to her room.
There probably weren't too many people in this world who would believe that I had become the alpha male of a wolf pack anyway. I stepped into my room to check on Laila, who was sound asleep, my care-worn blanket wrapped around her small frame. I couldn't stand another moment in the house – it now seemed so small. I decided to take a walk outside, to clear my head and think a bit.
Once outside I headed for the woods, changing into my wolf form. Suddenly, I could hear the thoughts of the other wolves and realized that maybe being in wolf form wasn't the best idea. Before they could start hounding me, I changed back into my human form, continuing to walk in the woods.
I lost track of time as my feet led me to a deserted clearing in the woods, where I decided to sit down and rest for a bit before heading back home. The scent of vampire pierced my nose, but I didn't pay attention to it until I saw the couple coming towards me. In seconds they were in front of me – Bella and Edward. I couldn't believe that Bella was standing there in front of me – I looked at her left hand and noticed the gold band on her finger. I wanted to throw up, but the urge swiftly calmed itself as an image of Laila danced into my head, reminding me that I had my one and only, who was safely tucked into my bed at the moment.
"Jacob…" Bella began, but her sentence trailed off as she looked at Edward.
After a moment of silence, she began again, "Jacob, I'm sorry about your father."
"It's okay, it's not your fault or anything – you have no reason to feel sorry. You barely knew him anyway," I responded quickly, concentrating on the grass I was suddenly twirling in and out of my fingers.
"Look, Jacob, I don't want it to be like this. Can't we still be friends?" she asked, hurt apparent in her voice.
"I'm not so sure about that," I started, "You've intentionally gone against the original pact made between the werewolves and the vampires – you're a threat to all humans in the area and my job, along with that of my brothers, is to make sure that the humans here are safe. How can I still be your friend yet guarantee my brothers that if you attack a human I can take care of the … situation?" my words trailed off. "Problem" is what I was going to say, but I didn't want to make the situation worse.
"Well, Jacob, I'm sorry that I'm just another problem that you and your little puppy dog friends have to take care of," she spat at me.
I stood up quickly, looking down into her furious face. "I am the new Alpha and what I say goes Bella. I will not put the well being not only of my brothers but of all of the humans in this area to chance on your whim. Like it or not, we will be watching."
This had definitely not turned out as I had wanted it to, but she needed to hear it from me. Fortunately, Edward had wandered off to one side, leaving Bella and I to chat alone.
"If I so much as think you're a danger to any human in this area, you can bet your best car that I will make sure that the problem is taken care of. If you prove to not be a threat to anyone, than maybe we can be friends," I said.
"Actually, Jacob, I did want to mention to you that even Jasper is surprised at my ability to control myself. I haven't even wanted to attack a human since I was changed. Didn't you think about that at all when you saw me at the funeral?"
I thought back, suddenly remembering how she and Edward had stayed to the outskirts of the crowd, but Bella hadn't even winced at the idea of being there. I was sure that if Edward thought she was a threat to the humans there, he wouldn't have let her go. The steam that had been heating my argument cooled down considerably.
"You're right Bella. I'm sorry I got heated up like that. You know, leadership is much more difficult than you would think," I told her.
"Friend?" she asked quickly, holding her hand out.
"Friends," I stated, taking her hand and shaking it.
Finally, all of the puzzle pieces fit together, my life would definitely be much happier now that I knew that not only Bella and I were friends, but that I wouldn't have to worry about her attacking any humans in the area. The relief ran through my system, adrenaline that was building up suddenly seeped away and I was left exhausted. I turned away to go home, knowing that now I would finally be able to live in peace.
The End.