A/N: Thank you so much to my readers and reviewers. You are the best. Stephenie Meyer owns everything Twilight. This plot deviation is mine, as are some new characters coming up. Thanks and love to my Beta, Murfy. I love you my sweets. Bells and Jake, comin' right up. Mama
By His Side
Chapter Twenty-One
Bella and Jacob woke up early this morning. They hadn't slept very well. This bed was never meant for two. It definitely wasn't meant for a
couple with one half that was a wolf. There were several various and sundry parts of Jacob hanging off the mattress and Bella was mostly
pressed into that mattress underneath him, flattened like a meadow flower between the pages of a book.
When she opened her eyes, she was so surrounded by everything Jacob that she wasn't sure if the sun was up or not. Bella was on her back
and Jacob was face down in the pillow with most of his body covering her. Only the top of her head was visible above his shoulder.
"What time is it?" she mumbled sleepily.
Jacob opened one eye and cast a glance at the bedside table.
"Looks like about 8:30," he smothered the words into the pillow.
"Is it really cloudy and dark, or do you mean it's 8:30 PM?"
A slight chuckle vibrated over her and he tenderly kissed her temple.
"What's the matter, honey? Is it dark down there?"
"Yes, you could say that. There's not a lot of oxygen either."
She wiggled one hand free and as forcefully as she could manage, poked her index finger deeply into his ribs and twisted. Jacob jerked upward
and clasped her hands in his, pulling her onto his stomach and wrapping his legs around hers.
"Hey! None of that now. Ticklish people must remember they should never tickle."
"And good morning to you too, Hot Boy. I wasn't trying to tickle you, I just needed to get your attention. Hot and sweaty and hard to
breathe under there. It worked didn't it?"
"You could say that. 'Hot Boy' huh? Who you calling 'Boy'"
"Oh excuse me, I thought my husband was here for a minute. He's quite young and really just a boy, even though he's incredibly handsome
and manly. Too bad he's not here. What did you say your name was again?"
Jacob grinned at her and reached a hand down to the floor. He picked up his cast off boxers and twirled them on his finger.
"You didn't notice? My name's Klein, Calvin Klein. But you can call me CK. Or better yet, call me 'Baby'."
"Okay, Baby, we need to get busy and get moving."
"Oh, Bells, I thought you'd never ask."
Jacob, I mean CK, rolled her back underneath him and pressed his lips to hers in a warm, passionate embrace. By the time they came up
for air again, it was 9:30 and they really did need to be up and on their way.
Showered, dressed and down in the kitchen, the newlyweds inhaled toast, eggs and coffee. A note on the counter let them know that Charlie
and Billy were gone fishing and would be back Sunday night. They locked up the house and headed over to the Cullen residence in Jacob's Rabbit.
"Carlisle, let me see if I've got this straight. Bella is getting 'benefits' from the transfusion of my blood and combined with the imprint, is going
to be wolfing out a little bit?"
The normally quiet and dignified vampire doctor laughed out loud at Jacob's unique grasp and take on the situation. The young man could seemingly
handle anything that life threw at him, and his new wife was demonstrating a similar capability for coping with weird. They certainly were a good match.
"That's one way of putting it, Jacob. I don't know to what extent Bella will show effects of the wolf gene, but some of them have already manifested.
We've both seen firsthand her ability to heal faster than an average human and her increased ability of movement. Bella, I doubt you ever imagined
you would be coordinated enough to be fast on your feet, hmmm?"
Bella had been mostly speechless throughout Carlisle's discourse on his research findings. She shook her head slowly, still digesting the revelations.
"Carlisle, I never imagined being associated with a wolf at all, much less married to one and gaining any of his characteristics. This is all a little
overwhelming right now."
Jacob encircled her shoulders and hugged her to his side.
"Don't worry, Bells. I'm sure we can handle the changes together. I'm right here, honey."
"The two of you will need to be aware of any new feelings or sensations that you experience. If you'll document everything in that notebook I gave
you, I will be most grateful. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. I appreciate you allowing me to stay to help you."
Jacob held his hand out to the doctor as he stood to leave with his mate.
"No problem, Carlisle. I appreciate what you've done for us lately, and I hope you will stay in the area and help in the future if we need you."
"It's a win/win situation, Jacob. Only Esme and I will be staying. Rosalie and Emmett are moving to Spain indefinitely and Jasper has told me he
intends to relocate to South America. Esme's medical training will be invaluable to me and I can be here for the Pack and continue my research
at the same time."
Bella took Carlisle's hand in both of hers.
"Thank you Carlisle. I know this isn't the way we thought things would turn out, but I'm glad you and Esme will be here for us. I'm glad you can
forgive the past and move on with us."
"Of course, Bella. It is for the best for us to work together and look to the future."
Jacob and Bella said their goodbyes to Esme and left the vampire home. Bella wondered at how much had changed since her graduation from high
school and pondered the possibilities for her future with Jacob and the Pack.
They drove toward La Push and she sat up and looked questioningly at Jacob when they passed the little red house without stopping. He smiled slyly
at her and wrapped her close to his side under his strong right arm.
After a few more minutes of driving, Jacob turned onto a gravel road that was hardly more than a path. Instead of proceeding further he pulled over
into the grass on the side and parked. Without saying a word, he got out, walked around to Bella's door, opened it and offered her his hand. The smile
on his face was enigmatic, but Bella's curiosity was piqued. She grinned back at him and took his hand, exiting the car. He reached down and swept
her into his arms.
"It's not the smoothest path and it's a bit of a distance," was all he would elaborate.
He walked briskly and confidently, cuddling his mate close, smiling broadly to himself. A few minutes up the path the trees began to get bigger and
thicker, the canopy of branches and leaves was almost solid, providing the most delicious shade. Bella was gazing all around her, soaking up the beauty
of their forest, when she began to sense a presence of multiple guests observing them from deeper in the coverage. She was pretty certain she caught
a glimpse of fur, a glint of a shiny eye and maybe a touch of pink from a huge tongue. It was obvious the Pack was going to join them, she just wasn't
sure when, or why.
More than a mile up the road, Jacob came to a stop and lowered Bella's feet to the ground. He held her close against him, kissed her sweetly and told her
to close her eyes. She did as he instructed, completely entranced with this game he was playing. He turned her so she faced forward and pulled her back
to his chest. Steadying her with his arms, he walked her forward a hundred more steps.
"Okay, Bells, you can look now."
She looked.
Her mouth flew open.
The most charming cottage stood in front of them. It was straight out of Hansel and Gretel and she clapped her hands together in delight.
"Oh, Jacob, this is so cute! Whose house is this?"
"Ours," he said as he hugged her tight, placing his chin on her shoulder.
"Ours?"
"Yep."
"No way!"
"Yes, way."
"How?"
"Council."
"Get out!"
"And Tribe."
"Really?"
"And Pack."
She turned and scanned the tree line, grinning widely, tears beginning to slip down her cheeks.
"You guys!"
Suddenly the woods came to life. The group of huge, copper-skinned and sculpted boys emerged en masse following the tall and beautiful raven-haired
she-wolf. Leah led the group right up to their Alpha couple and embraced Bella warmly.
"Welcome home, Bella."
She sniffed just a little herself and shook her head fiercely to throw off the leaking emotions. Bella couldn't find any words. She returned Leah's hug and
ran her eyes down the line of the boys, gratitude spilling over.
The group of embarrassed young wolves looked at the ground and shuffled their feet restlessly. Embry seemed to be the spokeswolf.
"We hope you like it Bella. We're glad that you're here,...for Jake, and for us."
Bella extracted herself from Leah and threw her arms around Embry's neck. Jacob approached Embry behind her and reached out for Embry's hand.
"Thanks dude. You guys did a great job."
"Anytime, man. Welcome back."
"Thanks, Emb. We'll see everyone tonight at the beach, right?"
Embry nodded and they all slinked away quietly into the trees. Jacob once again lifted Bella into his arms and walked across the porch to the front door
of their new wolfhaven. He pushed open the door and carried his mate through, setting her down in the front room.
"Oh my gosh, Jake! This is perfect! How did they know?"
"It's been a conspiracy from the start. Everyone was in on it. The Pack, the Council, the Elders, Charlie, even Renee. Do you like it baby?"
"Are you kidding? I love it! Let's go get the rest of our stuff and get unpacked, right away."
"Alright, honey. Wow, anxious much, Bells?"
There was no need for an answer as Bella clapped her hands, gave a little squeal and dashed out the door. Assuming Jacob would follow and
probably race with her back to the car.
Bella was shocked into a frightened shriek when he rushed up behind her, grabbed her and sped back to the house with her. He deposited her in
the front room and looked at her with fear and fury in his black eyes.
"Bells, stay here honey. I smell a vamp. They're close. There's more than one. I'm calling the Pack back right now."
He ran out the front door, locking it on his way and phased instantly as he dove off the porch, howling for his brothers and sister as he morphed.
The giant russet wolf stood panting and huffing angrily as he paced back and forth in front of the house. Soon a group of six black-cloaked figures
appeared out of the woods and began to stalk forward toward him.
He was prepared to take them all on by himself if need be to defend his home and his mate. He snarled in defiance at the cowled monsters,
hoping against hope that some of his Pack weren't too far away to help. Embry, Quil and Paul burst into the Pack mind first.
"What is it, Jake?"
"What's going on?"
"Vampires! In the clearing at our house! Black cloaks. That's the way Bella described the Volturi guard outfit. How far away are you? There's six
of 'em that I can see!"
"At least a couple of minutes, Jake. Try to bluff and stall 'em. We're coming!"
Huge paws and long, sharp claws dug into the earth as the trio pushed themselves faster to reach their Alpha in time. Jacob continued to growl and
bare his teeth while pacing in a stand-off with the six un-moving and silent vampires. He wouldn't allow himself to feel or show the fear choking him
with worry for his mate locked inside the house behind him. If they charged him, he would fight to the death and hope his brothers could arrive in
time to save his girl.
The group began to advance toward him slowly and deliberately. They seemed in no hurry to engage the giant creature, even though they could
smell their objective inside the house. Their orders were clear and concise. Find and capture the human girl and wait for Alec to arrive with the rest
of their entourage. If necessary, capture and disable anyone who tried to protect the girl. None were to be killed, yet.
Each of the six reached up and pushed down their hood, revealing sparkling white faces, brilliant red eyes, and close-cropped black hair. They spread out
into a semi-circle and moved to attempt to herd the huge wolf away from the structure in the clearing. He was stubborn and cagey and they were
becoming frustrated at their lack of success in luring him to the side.
Suddenly, the group of six froze and turned their heads as one to peer over his head. The shock and terror on their faces puzzled the wolf. He cocked
his head to one side and his mouth dropped open, his tongue lolling out, betraying his surprise as each of the vampires began to retreat back toward
the tree line rather rapidly.
Jacob could not have wished for better timing. As the Volturi guardsmen reached the trees, seven members of his Pack descended upon them. Others
had heard the alarm he had raised and all had come to the rescue in the nick. The Alpha joined his brothers and sister and made short work of the
vampires who had been retreating and blinded with fear.
When fires were burning and purple smoke lifted into the sky, the Alpha wolf thanked his Pack.
"Not a moment too soon guys. Thanks. I can't understand why the fuckers suddenly turned tail and ran like that."
The rest of his wolves looked at him, then looked to each other, then back at him.
"Dude, did you not see what came up behind you?"
"Behind me? No, what are you talking about, Quil?"
Jacob looked over his shoulder toward the house, saw nothing amiss, and turned back to the others. His Pack, as one, showed him through their mind
connection exactly what the vampires had seen behind him, causing them to flee in terror.
Jacob saw the scene as each of the wolves emerged from the woods and sighted on the interlopers. He could see himself standing fierce in front of the
cottage. Then he gasped internally as he saw what came up behind him and took up a post beside the house.
Another wolf, wild-eyed and feral stood behind him. Its fur was deep mahogany and lush. And it was at least three times his size! It dwarfed the cottage.
For that matter, it dwarfed Jacob! It let out a snarl that he hadn't heard over his own growling, but the sound shook the ground in his mind's eye.
Stunned, Jacob looked at his comrades, then turned his huge head to look over his shoulder at the cottage. The front door opened and timidly,
Bella stepped out onto the porch. She gave a little wave and smiled sheepishly.
"I guess maybe this is something we need to write down in Carlisle's notebook, huh?"