The next morning I got up and put on my usual outfit of cut offs and hiking shoes. My gorgeous Bella was admiring the view of the mountains. The sunbeams made her smooth tan skin glow. I walked over and kissed her neck.
"Good morning beautiful. Admiring the view?'' I said suggestively breathing on her with my hot scented breath.
"I love how warm your breath is.'' Bella replied as she pulled my arm around her.
"These werewolf biceps of yours are rock hard.'' Bella murmured feeling the muscles in my arm. It feels so good when she does that. After a few seconds there was a knock on the entrance to our room.
"Good Morning Alpha Black.'' A nasally but low tenor voice spoke. I turned to notice Jonah Stormcloud wearing leather jeans and tan hiking shoes.
"Please forgive me. Am I interrupting something?'' Jonah asked politely as I noticed he was holding a pair of black leather pants on a primitive hanger.
"No sir. Please call me Jacob or Jake. Those are for me I gather?'' I said looking at glancing at what he was holding.
"Yes they are. You did make the request. There is no need to address me so formally you can call us by our first names.'' Jonah said as I thanked him for loaning a pair of leather pants and belt to me. I immediately but them on,
"Jake you look so handsome in leather.'' My Bella replied kissing my hand. "Thanks Bells. But since I'm not on my bike I'd rather wear regular pants or shorts if that's okay with you.'' I requested of Bella.
"Of course Jake whatever your comfortable in.'' Bella replied as changed back into what I was wearing previously.
"Bella, Jacob I don't wish to be rude but we have important things to do today. If you would please follow me.'' Jonah requested. We had a scrumptious breakfast of Succotash and were then led to the main chamber. En route Bella asked a few questions.
"Jonah, sir where's Percy and Diego?'' Bella asked slightly worried.
"They went for a run along with Jimmy.'' Jonah said nonchalantly.
"What? By themselves? With no adult supervision?'' Bella asked in a panic and showing a surprising lack of confidence in the High Council.
"Miss Black do you honestly believe we'd leave them vulnerable? Aaron and Josh as well as Mike Newton are with them and will protect them from any bloodsucker and from harm in general.'' Jonah shot back trembling a little bit.
"See Bells they won't let any harm come to them. What are Aaron and Josh doing with them?'' I asked.
"We are assessing how they are physically to make sure they are developing normally and have the standard traits for werewolf children. In addition they are the first werewolf offspring in the Pacific Northwest in a generation.'' Jonah replied. "We will examine their special powers tomorrow. Right now there is something far more pressing. " Jonah said in reply.
"Why is Mike with them?' Bella questioned.
"He is a coach at your reservation school and therefore a excellent trainer. The children are also familiar with him and Azarel felt it would make the children more comfortable.'' Jonah explained. I very much approved of this. The kids don't know the council very well and having one of their Uncles with them would help ease any concerns they might have.
"Thanks for doing that.'' Bella said as we reached the main chamber. Just as we arrived at the main chamber the rest of my pack mates showed up as well. Jonah went to stand on the platform with the rest of the council members including Brandon Nullah whom I didn't see when we first arrived yesterday. Brandon was wearing loose black leather pants and a black leather metal studded belt.
"Where's Jonathon by the way?'' Bella asked speaking out of turn to which Caleb immediately responded.
"Isabella how many times must you be told to speak to us only when you are spoken too?'' Caleb growled. I think the whole council has a special power. What is the special power? Putting up with Caleb, his anger management issues make Paul look calm.
"Caleb first off her name is Bella, secondly speak to her in that tone again, and Josh and Aaron collectively are going to use you for fight training practice.'' Sarah growled back. "You're going to be most grateful for werewolf healing because your going to get pounded.'' Jonah told Caleb.
"My fellow council members we have important matters to discuss may we get on with it?'' Eli intervened.
"We most certainly shall. To answer your inquiry Jared filled him in with some very preliminary background to put his mind at ease. Graham is currently doing a physical on him to determine if he is in good physical health.'' Azarel said strangely.
"Why are you giving him a physical? He's one of you isn't he?'' Bella asked with wonder and questioning the council's explanation and expressing the thoughts going through my head. My friends probably were too especially Jared.
"Jonathon is extremely powerful. Graham is giving him a physical to determine weather or not he is a hybrid. I'm sure your wondering why so I shall have Sarah tell you.'' Azarel said addressing us.
"Hybrids are very complicated. Some are venomous, some are not. Some hybrids have heartbeats while others don't. That being said there is no evidence to suggest Jared's brother is a hybrid. His body temperature alone is evidence enough. There is however no harm in being absolutely sure given the present situation halfway across the world in leech land itself. '' Sarah explained clearly showing her 200 plus years on the council.
"However, First on the order of business is Ms. Swan's possible new power. If you would step forward please.'' Azarel ordered as Bella did as she was told. She didn't need any encouragement from me and didn't seem afraid at all. Bella has come to see the High Council as her leadership body too. Imprints are a part of our world so therefore they are her bosses as well.
"We are well aware that you are immune to the powers of leeches. Does that remain the case?'' Azarel asked my Bella.
"Yes sir it does.'' Bella answered. I wondered why she was addressing the council members as sir not that it mattered. She was being very polite when she didn't have to be.
"You do not need to address us as sir, you can call us by our first names. I am profoundly sorry for what I said before about your son and for my harsh tone with you. Diego may be different in appearance then what would be expected of a werewolf's son but one of us he is. '' Caleb said in what seemed like a truly apologetic tone.
"Your forgiven Caleb, sir.'' Bella replied. I was very surprised by this. This was not the Caleb I knew.
"If you would please describe your new ability to us.'' Caleb requested being nice for a change.
"For the last few weeks I've been having strange and frightening dreams. One of them involved the demise of Jacob's pack by a vampire possessing powers over wind, water and metal. He said soon the old regime would be brought down and werewolves would be exterminated.'' The Council looked at Bella in disbelief. No one spoke for at least a minute.
"I am truly sorry you had to witness such a terrible dream but there is no known vampire that powerful. Not to mention the fact that their powers are for the most part useless on us.'' Sarah reassured breaking the awkward silence.
"Not all of them Sarah. Only ones that have a physical effect.'' Azarel corrected.
"That was what I meant.'' Sarah growled slightly. Azarel and Sarah really do fight like a married couple. Wait a second they are a couple and are also mutual imprints.
"Have you had any other dreams of this sort?'' Michael inquired.
"Not of that magnitude no. I did however have a dream that I later realized was a vision.'' Bella informed the council.
"And what did this vision consist of?'' Sarah asked.
"I saw Jared getting a phone call in the middle of the night. From what I saw he was worried about something. The next day Jonathon showed up exactly as my vision showed.'' Bella said. "I know this because he told me what transpired.'' Bella continued. "There was a second dream or vision as well. I had a vision of a group vampires asking Jon to join the Volturi. They lured him via one of their powers and brought him to Volterra and turned him.'' Bella was cut off by Caleb.
"So of what concern would that be to us?'' Caleb said rudely and mindlessly.
"Caleb that is my brother your talking about!'' Jared snarled.
"Half brother.'' Caleb sneered back.
"As if it mattered he's still Jared brother. How can you say something like that?'' I chastised.
"I'm sorry for my rudeness. It was most uncalled for.'' Caleb said remorsefully.
"You got that right Echohawk. Time to fly.'' Eli said punching him and knocking him out cold from the force of his punch. It's a good thing Caleb is a werewolf otherwise he'd have been in emergency room for sure. I found it interesting Eli knocked him out and not Josh. It seems like its routine for the council members to punch him. One thing is for sure living with council couldn't possibly be boring. It seems like council members also have something going on. I sometimes wonder what the Volturi do in their spare time considering leeches can't do half the things werewolves can do as they are essentially walking corpses.
"Sorry about that. In case your wondering we keep him is because of the wealth of knowledge he possesses given his age. Trust me say when I say he used to be much worse. Myself Eli, and Josh have quite literally knocked some sense into him.'' Azarel responded dryly.
"Azarel if I might,'' Michael said as Azarel gave him the gesture to speak. "Jared's brother is extremely powerful; if he were to become a vampire his powers would be enhanced, perhaps beyond comprehension. As evidenced by your encounter with the now deceased Irina La Fey Count Dracula desires him as well. Now that you have brought Jonathon here he's safe from bloodsuckers. If he is in a fact one of us, which is likely a near certainly, the extent to which his powers would be enhanced as one of us cannot be determined at present time. '' Joel continued and for the most part telling us what we already knew.
"Thank you Joel. To get back to the topic we were discussing, I think it is a safe pronouncement that you have my power in a limited sense You are a first in our world just like Mr. Clearwater is.'' Eli informed Bella. Eli has the ability to read and show to others an individual's past, present and to a limited extent future. He's sort of like the wolfie version of Alice Cullen. Last time we visited the council they determined Seth is the first known werewolf to have natural liking of vampires. The only way we lose our hatred of vampires is if we imprint on a hybrid, which is against werewolf law.
"I most inclined to agree Eli. I believe Bella is the first known werewolf imprint to have developed a power. Wouldn't you agree my dear?'' Azarel said turning to his mate Sarah clearly wanting her insight.
"Yes I agree the possibility is certainly there.'' Sarah nodded in agreement.
"Since this matter appears settled shall we move on to Transylvania and Count Dracula in more detail?'' Joel inquired.
"An excellent suggestion since it is far more pressing.'' Jonah nodded in agreement.
"As you may or may not be aware Count Dracula has returned and appears to be gaining in strength. From 1476 to 1705-'' Eli started to speak but Paul rudely cut in which the council wouldn't think highly of.
"'Eli, we already know this, don't tell me you brought us up here tell us his history. The coven who lives near our land told us about him and the Volturi.'' Paul snapped. I half expected to see steam leaving his ears.
"Paul, there is no need for theatrics. I recall you have a treaty with the Cullen family or to be formal the Denali Coven, however we have recently acquired intelligence they most certainly do not posses. Dracula unbeknownst to the Volturi is collecting items from across Romania. These items are the Golden Dragon staff, which enhances the powers of supernatural beings, his imperial crown which he wore when we he was leech king, and the Castel Medallion which has an unknown function.'' Brandon explained, and just as he paused Sam cut in.
"Brandon I don't mean to interrupt but why did you summon only us? Shouldn't other packs be alerted as well?''
"Other packs have been told via our regional branches in North and South America. You are being personally informed due to one of your tribal legends having a direct bearing on Dracula. Many tribes however have variations on it.'' Michael explained in a very serious tone. I got a strange feeling I knew which legend he meant.
"Once Count Dracula acquires what he seeks he will be nearly unstoppable. He will have the means to restore his empire and exterminate us once and for all, but not before unleashing a terrifying event as the official announcement of his return. There is however hope, there is only one who can kill him. This individual is known as the Great One. The only way to truly defeat Prince Vlad aka Count Dracula, and vanquish him once and for all is through the power of that being, which is sometimes known as The Ultimate Werewolf. Throughout the centuries there have many candidates but they have turned out to be false leads. Based on what we know Jonathon Eaglequill shows the greatest promise thus far, some more tests will determine this for certain, but they will take several days.'' I was speechless at what I heard and I could tell my Bella and the rest of my friends were to. The council collectively gave us a look as if to say well say something, I noticed Caleb opened his eyes and got up. I heard footsteps from behind me just as Caleb spoke.
"I see the children have returned from their excursion.''