Choices Matter; but Timing is Everything

Disclaimer – Just in case there is anyone who doesn't know already, I do not own twilight or the characters within. I'm just playing with the plot a bit to spice up my boring life. Thank God for Stephanie Meyer.

Chapter 21 – Talking with the Pack

PACK POV

Quil – Sam let loose a howl. Less than a minute later, I heard the first of four crackling sounds that ended with a pop. After each pop I heard a new voice say … Sam? I recognized two voices immediately, Jacob and Embry. I'd know their voices anywhere.

Jacob –" Sam? Is it Quil, did he phase, is Bella okay?"

Quil - I felt a rumble in my chest. Did I just growl? I think I did. "I'm not the expert on hurting Bella, that what be you Jacob." I thought. And he heard me.

Jacob –"I never meant to hurt her. You sure didn't waste any time swooping in to pick up the pieces though did you. Friend?"

Embry-"Sam? Where do you want us?"

Sam-"Meet us at the wood's on the edge of Quil's property guys."

Jared-"Sam?"

Paul- "Sam?"

Sam-"Everyone to the wood's at the edge of Quil's property. Quil has phased."

Quil-"Good, maybe I'll finally get some damn answers. So did you kill the vampire?" I asked no one in particular.

Paul-"Damn strait, we tore him to pieces. That's one less bloodsucker for us to worry about."

Sam-"Quil, you knew who we were when you saw us in the meadow?"

Quil- "Well, no. I recognized you as spirit wolves, werewolves, from the legends, but I didn't know you were Jacob, Embry, Paul, Jared, and Sam." The same horse sized wolves from the meadow came into view and sat with me. I replayed the entire scene from the meadow in my memory.

Jacob-"I knew you were on the verge o f phasing, how did you stop, how did you calm down mid phase like that?"

Quil- "When I saw you guys come into the meadow I knew what you were from the legends, so I knew that Bella was going to be safe, I pulled her back into me and my shaking just stopped." My mind continued to follow the memory to the moment that happened between Bella and I after the wolves left the meadow. I saw Jacob's wolf eyes crinkle in pain and heard a low whine escape from him.

Sam – "Quil did you and Bella get any information from the vampire. Jacob said she had talked to him for several minutes before we arrived but Jacob didn't seem to remember much of the conversation?"

Quil- That was when I got a flash by flash type memory that I guess was from Jacob's perspective of me holding Bella's hand hiking to the meadow, Bella uprooting a flower, me pulling Bella in for a hug. "What were you stalking us Jacob? That's just wrong. Gosh Jake, seriously."

Jacob- "You're lucky I did or your first phase would have been in a one on one fight with a bloodsucker and who knows what could have happened to Bella!"

Quil- That was when a memory flashed through my mind of Emily, Sam's fiancée, she was injured by one of the wolves, by Sam. I winced thinking of my girl.

Sam-"Jacob… Quil… enough. Do you have any useful information Quil?"

Quil-I was still annoyed with Jacob, but I answered Sam."So I guess you're in charge here Sam?"

Sam-"Yes, Quil, I'm sorry. You have been so calm and collected I keep forgetting this is your first phase. Most of us were shocked and a bit out of our minds the first time this happened to us. No one else began by asking tactical questions. I'm the Alpha of the pack. Just as the legends say we are protectors. Here to protect our people and our land from the vampires. We run patrols on a regular basis and we handle problems as a pack, but I have the final decision."

Quil-"Yes, the vampire you killed called Laurent was in a coven with two other vampires. One of them was called James. The Cullens killed him last Spring in Phoenix. James' mate Victoria has declared vengeance on Bella because of it. She had sent Laurent to scout out the area and see how well protected Bella is."

Sam-"Why is she after Bella? Why not seek out the Cullen that killed her mate?"

Quil-"According to Laurent, the vampire Victoria felt it would be fitting to kill a mate for a mate. She seems to be under the impression that Bella is Edward Cullen's mate." I heard growls rolling from Jacob, Embry, and Sam. "I remember from the legends that vengeance over loss of a mate is one thing that vampires are driven by like no other. I feel like Bella is in very much danger from this Victoria. We must protect her.

Paul-"Why should we worry about the little Leech loving skank? If she is the Leech's mate let him protect her."

Quil- I didn't think. I just attacked. I lunged at Paul before he could even finish his thought. It was instinct I was snapping, clawing, biting, and growling. Jacob was right behind me. And then Sam used this authoritative crazy voice.

Sam-"Freeze. Do not move, do not attack one another."

Quil- Instantly Paul, Jacob and I were physically unable to continue our fight. It was so annoying. I wanted nothing more but to tear Paul apart. But I could not move. All three of us just growled and growled.

Sam-"Paul you already know how both Jacob and Quil feel about the Swan girl. Please don't aggravate an already difficult situation by making rude comments about her."

Paul-"Fine. Whatever."

Quil-"So what are we going to do?"

Jacob-"Yea, Bella's already been hurt enough, if we can't protect her heart we can at least protect her from the wrath of insane female bloodsuckers."

Quil-"What do mean if we can't protect her heart. I've got that situation under control. You no longer need worry about Bella's heart."

Jacob-"Yea, good luck with that, it's kind of heart to look after someone's heart if you're not allowed to talk to or come in contact with them for months."

Quil-"What? That's why you stopped talking to her, wouldn't return her phone calls. You weren't allowed? That's why you tore her barely healing heart back into little pieces?" I asked Jacob. "I'm sorry Sam but I will not agree to that. There is no way I will be forced to stay away from her."And then my thoughts turned more pleading. "Please Sam, I don't think I could survive it. I need her." Why was everything and everyone trying to take her away?

Sam-"I know Quil, I know. We'll figure something out."

Jacob- "WHAT IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS UNFAIR AND RIDICULOUS IN THIS WORLD ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SAM! Why does he get to figure something out? I begged you Sam, for days I begged you. I love her too Sam, I've known her longer. She was mine first; until you let him swoop in and steal her away from me!"

Sam- "I'm sorry Jacob. The rules are different for Quil and Bella. She's his imprint. We can't keep them apart." His thoughts turned to Quil. "But she will need to be informed. She'll need to know about everything, including the danger. She deserves a choice. It's not exactly risk free, hanging out with werewolves."

Quil-"My imprint?" Jacob-"His imprint?"