Chapter 21

"Wait, what?" Jacob asked. He was completely taken aback. "You can't just quit, you have a pack of over a dozen to lead."

"Jacob, that's just it. They are not my pack to lead, they never have been. I've done it for seven years. I've taken your job for far too long. You're a big boy now and you can take responsibility for what is yours and no matter how much you want to deny it, this is your pack. I've done my time, it's over, and I have a wife. I have a wife who wants children and wants a husband to be there for those children and you know what, I want to be that husband." His words were something no one could go against. No one could deny him a normal life with a wife and children.

"I…no…I can't." Jacob started to say but quickly shut his mouth.

"There is no excuse so don't try to find one. Seth, Embry, Jared, and Quil know. They trust you to lead them in the right direction and well of course Paul too." Sam continued.

Jacob began to shake his head. "You've completely lost it if you think I can do this."

Sam sighed. "It doesn't matter what I think. What matters is what you think. I know right now you think you can't, but like everyone else you're not that same sixteen year old were seven years ago. You've matured far more than anyone else has and you've gone through what most of us haven't, you can do this. Jacob you were born to do this, you've put it off long enough." A long silence followed. No one knew exactly what to say. Maribel was completely lost. Paul probably thought it wouldn't be best to say anything. I didn't know what to say. Sam had said what he needed to say and Jacob was too shocked to say anything at all.

"I'll get the pack together tonight and announce it to everyone." Sam finally said.

Jacob was still in denial. "No, I don't want it."

"It's already yours." He replied. "I'll see you at the wedding." He departed leaving everyone a little stunned.

After what felt like an eternity Paul stood. "I'm gonna go get my tux, see you guys later." It became a really awkward situation for everyone.

"Jacob are you okay, you seem a little out of it." I finally said.

"I can't believe he did this, I can't lead a pack of sixteen wolves. I don't want this." He insisted.

"Jacob I know you don't want this but you can't deny Sam what he wants and you can't leave the pack without an Alpha."

"I know that but I want a life too. I want you to have a life and I don't want you to have to stay here in this town for the rest of eternity."

"Hey as long as I'm with you I'll spend the rest of eternity anywhere." I assured him. "I will never leave you, I love you and I will follow you any where. I'll do whatever I have to do even if that means staying here forever then I'm going to do it."

"Nessie I don't want to have to ask you to do it."

"You don't have to ask." I reminded him. "We will work something out. I'm not leaving you, ever."

"You're so good at this." He muttered. "I just really don't want to do this, but I have no choice."

"Hey does that mean I get to meet the whole pack tonight?" I never actually met the whole pack together in their forms only some of them in their human forms. I was kind of excited.

He shrugged. "If you want, you'll probably see them at the wedding."

As he mentioned the wedding I quickly looked at the time, it was already 4:40. "Yeah, but are you going to get ready? It's late."

"I don't have anything to wear."

"Yes you do, I actually stopped by a store when we were at IHOP, bought you something."

"Really, I didn't even notice you were gone."

I giggled. "I'm just that good, it's in the car, and I knew you weren't going to have anything." I turned to Maribel who was a silent as a mouse. "Maribel, I'm sorry what happened was really unexpected."

"Oh, no, it's fine. Is it okay if I just stay here while you go to the wedding?" She asked.

Her question puzzled me. "You don't want to come."

She shook her head. "It's not that. It's just that maybe I shouldn't go, it's your family, I'll be okay here." Her personality had changed so much. She was a completely different person a couple days ago.

This time Jacob was the one to say something. "No come, it's all good, no one will say anything. Besides I'll have to tell the pack tonight about what's going on with those…things."

She still looked unsure, "if you say so."

We both nodded.

My phone began to ring. "Hello." I answered.

"Did you get there?" My dad's voice asked.

"Yeah we did a couple hours ago. Guess what?"

"What?" I knew one of my dad's pet peeves was, not knowing.

"Jacob's going to be the new Alpha."

"Hmm, that's.…..interesting." He sounded as surprised as Jacob was.

"Yeah well I'll call you back we have to get ready for Rachel's wedding ironically its today." I informed him

"Have fun then."

"I will, bye dad." I hung up. "Jacob you're down to like 15 minutes, go!"

"Yes ma'am." He teased.

"Hey Nessie I forgot to thank your dad for signing me out yesterday." Maribel said.

I laughed nervously. "About that…he's not my dad he's actually my grandfather. Edward and Bella are my parents."

She had this blank face. "They…uh…well they don't look like it."

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The ceremony was beautiful. Jacob walked Rachel down the aisle, he seemed preoccupied with what Sam had told him but he was holding in there. Everyone was here all 16 members of the pack and the Clearwater's and my grandfather, Rebecca was also here. Jacob and I were surrounded by the original member of the pack: Jared, Embry Quil, and Seth and Leah. They knew what was up the rest; Collin, Brady and the others, who hadn't been a part of the original pack, were in another table. They really hadn't gotten too acquainted with Jacob.

I looked at Seth, something was up with him and I couldn't figure it out. When he first came up to us he had this stunned look on his face. Leah took him aside and talked to him but they went far away and I couldn't hear them. It bothered me, not knowing, he kept looking over to us. He was in a mix of interest and something I couldn't put my finger on.

"Hey you guys want something to drink?" Seth asked.

"No I'm good."

"Maribel." He prompted smiling. There was something that I didn't know.

"Water, if it's okay."

"Yeah, water." He repeated while everyone asked for other stuff..

"I'll help you." I offered. We walked over to get the drinks.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked.

"What are you talking about?"

"She's pregnant." I reminded him.

"I know that."

"Then what's up with you?" I asked.

"I don't know." He avoided every question I had after that. I gave up and sat down.

When I did a song started to play it was so mellow and nice.

"Come on, dance with me." I said pulling at Jacob's hand.

"I can't dance." He objected.

"Yes you can." I pulled him along with me to the dance floor.

See the lights,
See the party the ballgowns
I see you make your way through the crowd
You say hello
Little did I know

That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles
And my daddy said, stay away from Juliet
And I was crying on the staircase
Begging you please don't go, and I said

Romeo take me somewhere we can be alone
I'll be waiting all there's left to do is run
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story, baby just say yes

So I sneak out to the garden to see you
We keep quiet because we're dead if they knew
So close your eyes
Escape this town for a little while
'Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter
And my daddy said, stay away from Juliet
But you were everything to me
And I was begging you please don't go, and I said

I put my arms around his neck, I could barely reach. He rested his arms just above my waist.

"So what's up with Seth? He's acting oddly." I began a conversation

"I'm not sure but I did notice. I'll know tonight though."

"Are going to tell me?"

"You're going to make me if I don't."

I looked up. "You know me well. So, I told you you'd regret not coming."

He rolled his eyes. "I guess."

"You guess?"

"Yeah not all the news was pleasant." He reminded me.

"Maybe not but all can be recompensed." I reached up and pressed my lips to his. Even after a couple times of doing it, it still got my heart in a race and my cheeks cherry red.

"True, very true," he replied and he kissed me again.

"Get a room." Jared snickered beside us while dancing with Kim.

Jacob scowled.

"Jared." Kim quietly scolded.

I spent the remainder of the night practically glued to Jacob's side. I never let the Seth thing go.

Finally the toast was given by Jared, Paul's best man. "Alright well congrats you guys. Took ya long enough, seriously, I hope the best for you two and your baby by the way I call dibs on godfather. May you two have eternal happiness," It was short and sweet.

I nudged Jacob. "You know it'd mean the world to her." I whispered.

He sighed and stood. "Paul I hate you, I hate you with passion but I can't deny the fact that you love her and you make her happy. I trust that you'll keep her and my nephew safe from anyone and anything." He raised his glass and everyone took a drink.

By about midnight the pack and Rachel were the left. Everyone had gone home.

I had learned the names of the other 6 members. Their names were Josh, Kevin, Chris, Kyle, Brandon and Ethan. They looked a lot younger than the 'original pack' they looked about 17, 18 while the rest of the pack looked like they were in their 20's.

"I'm taking Emily home, see everyone tonight. Mandatory." He reminded everyone.

"Hey Maribel are you going to be okay if you stay at the house with Rachel. I'll stay if you need me too." I offered though I really wanted to go.

"Go ahead I'll be fine, I'm tired anyway." She agreed.

Seth, Sue and Leah came over to excuse themselves. "We can drop her off." Seth offered. There is something up with him! "We're going by to take my mom home." He continued.

"I'm okay with that." Maribel agreed a little too happy about his offer. Oh there is definitely something up.

"Alright well, I'll see you in the morning." I told Maribel as she left with Seth.

I turned to Jacob once they were out of sight. "Tell me you did not just see that." I said.

"I did." Jacob replied. "I don't get it unless...that would explain it but it's kinda bizarre."

"Unless…" I prompted.

"Nothing."

"Jacob."

"I don't even know if I'm right."

"Please." I whined.

"I promise that as soon as I know for sure I will tell you."

I pouted. "Fine, let's go." We walked back to my car. Apparently he knew exactly where we were meeting the rest of the pack. He drove to a trail that leads into the forest. I followed him to the end of the trail.

"Can you keep up?" He said smiling.

I narrowed my eyes. "If I knew where I was going then you'd be the one trying to keep up."

"Mhmm." He took off, cheater. I caught up with him in seconds. We ran for a couple minutes until we caught the scent of the others and we slowed to a walk.

Sam, Seth and Leah were the only ones who were left to arrive. Everyone else was scattered around the clearing, all 13 of them, in their human forms. The six I didn't know, sat together and Embry, Jared, Quil and Paul sat in another cluster. Collin and Brady sat beside them. They looked up at our approach.

Shortly after, Sam arrived with Seth and Leah at his heels. Sam called everyone to order, they got to their feet and gathered in an untidy circle. "I have an announcement to make. Many of you have noticed that I haven't gone out to patrol for a couple months. There is a reason behind that. I've quit." Sam began.

"Quit meaning..." Ethan asked.

"Meaning I'm not alpha anymore." Sam was always so straight forward, I liked that about him.

Most of them looked puzzled, everyone except Seth, Embry, Jared, Quil, and Paul. "You all now this was never my job to take, it just so happens that I'm oldest but it's not place…its Jacob's." Sam continued.

Among those who didn't know there was a dead silence. It seemed understandable the last six didn't even know Jacob and Collin and Brady knew him very vaguely. Their reaction was completely called for.

"And we don't get a say in this?" Kyle asked.

Kevin had the same reaction. "We are part of the pack."

Sam had an answer for them. "You didn't choose me so why would you get a say. This is his rightful place. I don't care what anyone has say, you all know it belongs to him."

"That's crap, he's been gone for 5 years, now he comes back a wants to claim his place." Josh snapped. I don't think neither Sam nor Jacob expected this reaction.

"He didn't claim it, I gave it to him." Sam answered.

"He doesn't even know us. If he really wanted to be Alpha we would've come back long ago and he wouldn't have split the pack." Ethan added. It seemed as if though all 6 felt the same.

"Well maybe I don't want it but that doesn't mean I won't do it. It's my responsibility despite how many of you object. I don't know you but Sam has done his time as he's said." Jacob said speaking up.

"I'm not following you." Ethan said.

I could feel the tense atmosphere. Jacob looked unsurprised beside me. "Listen, all those who choose not to follow me…..I really don't know what to say to you. That's not why I'm here. I'm here for another reason completely."

"What's the reason?" Sam asked.

"You remember when we met with the Volturi and one of them thought we were something we weren't?" Jacob started.

"Uh…..That Children of the Moon crap?" Quil

Jacob nodded. "Yeah, they're more real than we think. Long story short they're after them."

"Them?" Seth asked.

"Maribel and Nessie."

"Why?" Seth demanded. His reaction seemed odd, almost defensive.

Everyone eyed him but turned their attention back to Jacob. "One of them wants Nessie because he attacked her one night and then she got away, she knows their secret. They don't allow their secret to be revealed. Maribel was there when her brother was turned into one of them she knows everything and her brother is doing what he can but it isn't much."

"So you led them here?" Kevin asked.

"I believe comments weren't asked for." Sam said before anyone could say another word.

He waited for Jacob to continue. "I'm almost certain they'll be here on Wednesday, it's the next full moon."

"What are you going to do?" Embry asked.

That was a good question, what were we going to do? We had no plan.

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