A/N: Wow…the last chapter really elicited a response from many of you! I loved them!

So I didn't want to keep you waiting too long for this chapter.

Thanks Bluebaby for all that you do.

Chapter 21: The Demand of Ephraim Black

Some people say that silence is golden. Not me. I always liked noise. I'm loud or gregarious as Bella would say. I love to play jokes, to hear others laugh, to listen to their chatter. It's one of the reasons that I like working in the garage because something is always going on. The guys cracking jokes, music reverberating off the walls, the sounds of machines working. Too much silence drives me mad. Bella is different cause she needs it times. Sometimes I'll come home and there is nothing but silence. She'll be sitting on the porch staring off into space, sometimes for hours. I can always tell when she's writing because the house gets an eerie silence then, that's when I know she's diving face first into her own creations. My Bells is a kick ass at storytelling. Creating with metal and steel is totally different. There are the sounds of the blow torch, the metal coming together. All the noise and chaos is something that I thrive on. But now…I can't hear a god dammed thing, only silence. When my Elders turned against it felt like I had been struck deaf. They stripped me! They fucking cut me as if surely they had taken a knife to my jugular and then watched me bleed out onto the ground. Why had they done this? I had been thrust in the middle of a war that I did not ask for, been their solider, given my blood, sweat and would give my life for them. I had stood there in front of them and laid bare my soul for them to see when I relived the rape of my wife. I had told them of the pain she went through and yet it all meant nothing. They had stripped me of my leadership to give it to a man who I knew would abuse it and worse. I looked around seeing everything in slow motion; I asked for the Sprits to guide me and help me. I felt Bella's breath against my neck as she came forward to wrap her tiny hands around my waist, the feel of her against my back. I turned, seeing the pain mixed with confusion in her eyes as I reached for her my only help and salvation in this darkness as if my mind had left my body.

All of a sudden I felt sick to my stomach, as if I had been pulled through some sort of vortex to another realm, but I was still standing there on the beach. However everyone else was gone and I was utterly alone. Only darkness greeted me; yet my eyes could see through the darkness as clear as if it were light of day. Although it was a great distance, I could make out a figure heading my way. A large tall man with russet skin and long dark flowing hair under an amazing headdress came toward me. The man was dressed in the attire of my ancestors; he wore buckskin pants with a fur belt. He had a claw marks scarring his massive chest, his body a mass of muscles. Instantly I knew who the man was, it was my grandfather, Ephraim Black;but this was not the older version of him but the younger man in his prime, a man who looked a great deal like me only harder.

"Jacob…" He reached out and grabbed my arm at the elbow before pulling me into a strong embrace.

"Grandfather, Ayqsocha" I whispered to him. Emotion clouded my voice as I held the man that I had lost when I had been a mere seven years old. I held on tight wanting to feel his strength, his calmness and his assurance. I breathed in his hard embrace smelling the scent that I had not smelled since I was young.

"Hqvhli, ho" He responded smiling at me. He must have sensed my feelings. He pulled away, tears shown in his strong eyes as he nodded to me. "I too have missed you Jake." He looked at me for a moment seeing the man that I had become. He nodded with approval. "Come, it is time that we talk for we have very little time."

"Where are we? Where is everyone? How did this happen?" I had so many questions.

He did not answer my questions. He had been like that when I had been young, always taking his time doing things his way. "In do time." He patted my back. "There is something that you must see."

"But…"

"No buts. You asked for guidance the Sprits have answered. I'm here to do just that. Now come!" He barked in a tone that held raw power. My grandfather turned from me and phased into a large wolf. Come run with me. He thought toward me. I've been given this opportunity to come to you; the power of your blood allows this. I felt your pain, your anger and your despair.

I shifted into my wolf form as he took off running. I quickly followed. Together we ran fast and hard the trees speeding past us until our muscles ached. It was an arduous task as many many miles passed us by. It was then I realized that I needed to be in wolf form to run off my frustration and anger. I craved to feel the connection with mother earth and all of her creatures. We ran until finally we found ourselves in a circle of trees in an area that I didn't recognize. I turned toward him. I don't understand what's happening. Why did the Tribal Council do this? I tried to do right. Be a leader, a good Alpha yet the council took that position away from me.

My grandfather wolf turned me with serious eyes. Do you thinkyou've done everything that you could as leader?

I was confused by this question. Yes. I opened a business, created a company that will bring profits to the tribe. I've been a good Alpha to my pack and…

What about the council seat? He cut me off.They offered you a position on it, but you turned it down.

I frowned. I had a lot to do with the garage and the company we started. Besides Sam held that position and I didn't want to hurt him.

He raised an eye to me. So, you did not do everything you could grandson. He exhaled heavely. Being a leader, a true Alpha means making the hard decisions even when you don't want to.

I've done that. I responded not liking what he was suggesting.

Suddenly he was no longer wolf but standing before me to speak as a man. "Oh… You've made some good decisions but not all the tough ones you needed to make. Sam Uley was not Alpha. He was supposed to be your stand-in until you reached your maturity, when that time came you should have stepped forward and took over as true Alpha." He scolded for a moment before he spoke again. "I must admit, you are not entirely to blame, there should have been a teacher to explain everything to you about the requirements of the Alpha. Your father and the others tried their best, but they did not have all the information they needed. I did not foresee the coming of the Cullens therefore I did not tell him everything you needed to know." He looked out for a moment. "There are things only the Alpha can tell another Alpha." He sighed. "You did not take your rightful place and in turn your pack fractured and splintered into two. Two broken pieces, never strong enough or as strong as it should be. Worse yet they never bonded the way that spirits and mother earth intended them to do. And you my grandson have yet to reach your full potential.I know that this has been difficult but it's up to the Alpha's to always make the difficult decisions, no matter how painful they may be. You chose the easy way out. You chose to compromise in an effort to "get along" and in making that decision you compromised not only your position of power but the pack. And you did it in an effort not to disappoint one who never should have ruled."

I too phased. "You don't understand..."I tried to explain to him but he cut me off.

"I understand Jacob, better than anyone." He held out his hand in front of him and suddenly there were figures moving around in the middle of the clearing. The males watching intensely as two men circled each other in crouching fighting stances around the bone fire. It took me a moment to realize that one of the figures was my grandfather; the other a large male was one I did not recognize, they obviously had been fighting. My grandfather turned toward me. "That is Ustes; he was one of the best fighters in our tribe." His obsidian eyes looked at the other man with reverence. "He was also my best friend. We were bond brothers, we had been close, even shared the same mother's milk, since my mother had been killed."

I was confused when I saw the two of them phase and a fight took place. The two wolves went after each other, attacking viciously. The fight was brutal. After a while, the scene faded.

"What happened?" Why was he fighting his friend, I wondered.

"Ustes wanted to be Alpha. As did I. This was not new, though we were best friends; we often competed for the same thing. However, this was different." His severe eyes found mine. "I knew with all the fiber of my being that I was meant to be Alpha. There was something about my blood that was different. It was more powerful than the others. We both could not rule. So we fought for the position." My grandfather eyes filled with deep dark sorrow. "I won and I took the life of the man who had been my brother."

Life. I was stunned. My grandfather whom I had remembered had always been a gentle man, very loving and caring. How could a man so loving and kind kill his best friend?

"We fight to the death Jacob, when we fight for Alpha position."He answered as if he had heard my thoughts. "And yes, I do have the ability to hear your thoughts as you have the ability to hear the thoughts of your pack…"

"Your best friend? But how…how could you?" If you loved him, how could you kill him?

"I did what I had to do." He stated with gloomy yet serious eyes. "Ustes challenged me for the position, even when I begged him not to. We both knew the rules. Rules that were set in stone by nature. There was a reason we took the wolf as our totem and we live by their tradition. No one, including the tribal council could step in once the challenge had been issued, for they cannot break the decision of that challenge. I did what I had to do." He sighed heavily. "And for the rest of my life I had to live with that decision. I faced that challenge which ended in his death. But as badly as I still feel for my actions, I know that I made the right decision. When the Cold Ones came to destroy us, the pack was strong enough to take them on. Being Alpha also allowed me to create a treaty with the Cullens. I had the forethought to see that though they were The Cold Ones, they were indeed different. They had chosen to kill animals instead of humans. They weren't the senseless monsters the others were, though I did not trust them, so I made a decision that would allow us to live in some sort of peace amidst us. Ustes, he was a good man, but he was hot headed. He would have not made such a choice and his decisions would have cost us many lives for there were only a few of us. More did not transform until the Cullens had been here for a while. I and a few others believed that the numbers of transformations has something to do with the number of Cold Ones. We believed there will be one Alpha, one Beta, one Seer and undisclosed number of wolves.

"Seer" I asked. Not knowing what that was.

He paused as if concerned. "You do not have one?"

My grandfather touched my shoulder. "We do not have time to discuss that at the moment, maybe later if the Spirits allow because it seems there is a great deal that you need to know. Jacob, you may have empathy and compassion,but when it comes to leadership, you have to be able to make the hard decisions." He then looked at me with love and pride in his eyes. "I know you, you were a good boy and now you are a fine man, strong, independent, and thoughtful in your decisions. You do not take this power you have lightly. That is good for some cannot control one such as the wolf.

Suddenly we were back at the beach. This time everyone else was there, the council, the Elders, the pack, Sam, my family and me, at least my body. But it was strange because it was like I was a spectator to everything that was transpiring while I was standing next to my grandfather. "Can you be the Alpha they need you to be?" I watched at if I were watching an episode on television.

"No!" Leah cried out while revulsion filled her with. Her stomach cramped as she thought about the power that Sam would have over her mind and her body. No, they can't fucking do this to me! I won't let them no matter what the Elders say. Fuck them!

Sam looked at her. "Enough Leah, the decision has been made, control yourself."

"Control myself, you fucking son-of-a bitch…" Leah headed toward him; however Roman stopped her by pulling her back tight against him.

"I know that you want his head baby girl, but this isn't the place or time." He whispered holding her tightly against him in an effort to keep her from losing it and this turning into an all out brawl. If Sam were to touch Leah, Jake's pack would not stop until blood was shed. Emotions were running high at the moment. Roman didn't want this to get out of control. "There is no way in hell I'd let the fucker touch you. We'll take care of this later." Leah looked up into Roman's dark eyes where she saw a promise there. She believed him.

"Later then…" Leah was out for blood. There was no way in hell she was going to be under Sam's rule. She'd die first.

Rachel moved away from Bella toward the Elders. "Please…You can't make this decision…"

"It's done." Sam looked to Paul. "Control your wife."

Paul looked at Sam with anger. He didn't like Sam issuing orders. He crossed his hands, his biceps bulged. "If Rachel has something to say, she's going to say it and I'm not going to try and stop her. That's not how I treat my imprint."

Rachel looked back at Paul for a moment giving him a reassuring smile before she turned back to the Elders. "I know that you think that you've made the right decision but I only think its fair if you hear from everyone who's affected by this decision and that includes the imprints. I think we have should have an opportunity to say how we think and feel since it's our men that go out to protect the tribe. When they put their lives in danger we're the ones waiting with baited breath hoping and praying that they will come home unharmed. We're more than imprints; we are a sisterhood standing strong for our men to help them by tending to their wounds and giving love and support. Most importantly, we accept them for who they are along with all the positives and negatives that come with the territory of being mated to a werewolf. We also accept the inevitably of the fact that one day they may not come home."

Bella couldn't help but to nod. Rachel had summed it up perfectly. It was one of the things that she and the others had to accept. Although they had supernatural abilities, they weren't immortal. Nation was painful reminder to what could happen. Bella also realized that to some extent that the imprints had more to worry about than she did, after all part of their lifeline was tied to the wolves. She looked up to Jacob, normally at time like this he'd be pacing with anger rolling off of him; but instead, he was strangely silent as if only part of him was there.

Lorena responded. "I think that Rachel has made some good points. You may speak, all of you." She addressed to the women. "But please note, this does not mean that the decision will be changed though we will listen."

With complete understanding, Rachel nodded before she spoke from the heart. "First off, I know better than anyone what Sam has done for my Paul. When people think about Paul, the first thing they think is hostility or anger, but there is a lot more to my husband than that." She looked over at Paul's taunt face. "Paul's a very loyal person. He's someone you can count on, if he gives you his word. I really thank Sam for seeing the type of second-in-command my husband could be for honoring him in such a way. Being your second wasn't a responsibility that Paul took lightly. " She looked at Sam. "For what you've done for Paul, I will always be grateful." Rachel knew better than anyone how hard things had been for her husband growing up.

Paul's father was a serious alcoholic who had fell off the wagon when Paul's mother died in childbirth. He had blamed Paul for the death of his mother; therefore he had taken to beating him. Paul, like most children regardless of the abuse he had suffered, had been protective of his father desperate for his love. When the other children had made fun of Paul because of his shabby condition, his answer had always been to fight. Paul had to fight for everything. And he had a lot of anger and problems trusting others because of it. Although the tribe had to step in and save Paul, it had only been when he had taken a beating so severe that it left him battered with broken bones and a significant hospital stay, that Paul's father had been banished, leaving Paul utterly alone. Friends of Paul's mother had taken him in, yet he had always felt like an outsider, until Sam. Sam had taken him under his wing. It had only been through his friendship with Sam, the pack and his love for Rachel that Paul had been "saved". Still, she knew that her husband's insecurities were buried beneath his bravado. "I know that many of you must think that I'm biased because I'm Jacob's sister and maybe in a way I am, but it's only because I know what kind of man my brother is. Jacob's a good leader because he's a good man. He's a man of honor, does what he says he's going to do and doesn't allow personal agendas to cloud his decisions. More than that, I also know that with my brother at the helm that Paul will be in the most capable of hands with a strong pack around him to have his back. He will have an Alpha who will listen to his suggestions fairly and look out for his welfare. Most importantly, Paul will have a higher chance of coming home to me safe and sound. So, for my husband, the man that I love, I am begging the council to reconsider and put my brother in charge as prime Alpha."

Paul looked at his amazingly bold wife. Rachel was standing here in front of everyone telling them about how much she loved him. He felt what must be tears in his eys, but wasn't sure. God, what the hell did I ever do to deserve her? My whole life is her. And she was. When Paul had imprinted on Rachel it was like she was it. The sun, the moon, he revolved around her. He could never cheat on her. Never look at another woman. Never want another woman. His Rachel believed in him. She could have chosen anyone in the tribe, but she picked him regardless with his fucked up past. Paul knew he wasn't a saint, most people just tolerated him. Hell, he knew that Billy and Jacob just "dealt" with him because he was Rachel's husband; they really weren't fans of his and probably thought she could do better. The truth was he sometimes felt out of sorts around them. He could see how proud Billy was of his kids, how he protected them. Paul's old man never once in all his life ever told him he loved him or was proud of him no matter how hard he tried. All Paul ever got was the back of his hand. That was why he loved Rachel because she gave him all of her love. She was proud of him; she loved him and was never ashamed of him.

"I agree with Rachel." Kim whispered for a moment surprising Jared. She looked at him for a moment. "I'm not going to give a speech or anything like Rachel. I'm just going to tell the truth. Sam's been good to Jared, but I think that Jake's a better choice. I want my man to come home to me safe. So...if this is a vote, then I vote for Jake." Kim turned and stood next to Jared. "Sorry…"

He took her hand and kissed it. "It's okay. I know that you worry." Jared decided to speak. "I've tried to stay out of the fray, that's my way. Sam's been a hell of a leader. A good Alpha. But, going after the Cullens, well considering everything doesn't feel right to me. That's all I'm saying about this." Jared wasn't going to get in the middle of deciding who his Alpha was going to be, though he was miffed that Sam had taken things so far. He had always liked Sam as well as Jake, he didn't want to choose.

Quil stepped forward. "Embry and I didn't want to say anything. We are Jake's best friends and we thought that our opinion would be seen worthless because of it. Jake's our boy. We know his faults."

"We also know his strengths. He's fair." Embry added.

"How can you say that, he lied!" Sam couldn't believe how weak his pack had become in all of this.

"Yeah. But so did you." Embry countered furious that this was happening. "You never told us that you were going to press for banishment. Hell, we didn't even like the idea of you going for Alpha for both packs. This was a bad idea but you didn't listen when we tried to tell you NOT to do this."

"I don't have to. I'm doing what's best for us." Sam was frustrated that couldn't see past their "Jacob worship".

"For yourself." Quil countered. "Not us. We didn't want to be put in this position, but now you've forced the issue. We can't stand by and watch this happen to Jake."

"So, if you had a vote, you'd be voting for Jake instead of Sam." Quil Sr. asked them.

They both looked at Sam for a moment before they nodded in affirmative.

Sam felt as if his heart was being ripped from his chest. His pack was turning against him. Why? Why are you saying this? Didn't they realize all that he had given up for them? He had done everything for them. Shown them how to harness their anger, control their bodies, and deal with stresses of being werewolves. When he had first begun to phase he had been so frightened because he hadn't known what to do, what he was, how or why this had happened to him. Because nobody had expected another werewolf pack to start phasing all of the sudden, he had been alone. But somehow he worked through it though it hadn't been an easy process. The truth of it was, the pack made it better for him. He had been elated when Paul first changed because he had someone else to connect with. Helping Paul made Sam feel a sense of pride. He truly cared for Paul; yes Paul had anger issues, but Sam understood where they came from. He felt it was his duty to help Paul find a sense of purpose. Sam's grandmother helped him to see that this was his purpose, his calling, his contribution to the tribe. Giving up a chance to be a reporter and to leave the reservation had been difficult. He had given up a life that he and Leah had desperately wanted and had been relegated to watching her from afar, sensing her pain and anger at him and not being able to do a damn thing to stop it. With great responsibility comes great sacrifice and he had sacrificed so much for them and now it was a like a jagged little pill they would in turn ask for Jacob to be their Alpha.

Jacob had been someone he had always liked, he was easy going and got along with just about everyone. He was strong, fast and seemed to a natural ability that all others, including Sam lacked. As far ashe was concerned Jacob's problem had always been his unhealthy obsession with Bella Swan. Sam didn't get it. It wasn't like that there was anything extraordinary about Bella . She was likeable enough and pretty, but there was nothing about her he could see that would make her the center between Jacob and Edward's weird triangle. Sam wouldn't have wanted a woman who had been in love with a leech, it would disgust him. But not Jacob. He started disobeying by telling Bella the "truth" about them. Sam still hadn't figured out Jacob got around the Alpha order. Jacob stated that Bella had "guessed" the truth. It killed Sam that Jacob had wasted so much potential and he was giving it up for her? A woman who wasn't even his imprint. That was what galled Sam the most. He had been forced to give up the woman he loved when Jacob hadn't. Sam had been a man torn in two in love with two very different women. He loved Emily, the wolf inside of him recognized her as his mate, but sometimes the man…found it was harder to accept. Sometimes the man in him saw the past even when he didn't want too. Emily was everything he could love in a woman. She was a good mother and wonderful wife beautiful inside and out. She was his source of strength, the calm ocean cascading over him. He loved her, he did. But late at night when he dreamed, he dreamed of a woman with sarcastic wit, impressive intelligence with short hair and dark eyes, legs, a taut body with full breast. He dreamed of fire… he dreamed of Leah. His eyes found her. Even now, she was amazing, her anger, her heat, her fire. God, I hate that a part of me still wants you. He was furious. He was imprinted to Emily there should be no feelings for another. He knew that. He felt what the others felt. The other wolves intense longing, love and complete adoration for their imprints. Their "oneness" with them to the extent that there was nothing else, no one else. Why God, why does it seem that some of that "oneness" is missing when it comes to me? It frustrated him, made him feel less than he was. He didn't want to be this way. There were times that he hated himself for his feelings for Leah, times that he actually hated her and wanted to make her pay. More and more he had turned to alcohol something he knew better to do. It made his weak. It made him mean and nasty and do things he'd never do. When he thought about what he had done with the woman in that bathroom, it made him sick to his stomach. Unprotected sex with a woman he barely knew because she looked like Leah. To cheat on his wife, his imprint, the mother of his children. He had disgraced himself and betrayed his wife. He promised himself never to do that again. He knew he wouldn't but he couldn't seem to let go of Leah. She had thought it had been so easy for him to walk away from her, but it hadn't. If he were honest he'd admit that he needed to be near her. Seeing her with Jacob, how she relaxed and comfortable she with his him ate at Sam like acid. He had begun to think that there was something more between them than simple friendship. When Paul had told him of her different behavior ,style of dress and the fact that she and Jacob had disappeared together, he lost it. Jacob, who had everything, was now taking Leah. Sam knew that he had made a promise to the Elders to help the others. He wanted to. He loved his tribe and his pack brothers. Yet, leadership came at a price. His eyes found Leah. He was hurt by the blazing hatred that he saw. She once looked at me full of love and now only hatred. He closed his eyes for a moment, not noticing the glance that Emily had given him.

"What about you Paul, do you feel the same way?"

Sam turned and looked at Paul waiting for him to defend him. Paul was silent for a moment. "Sam's a good man and I think that he does have pack's best interest at heart most of the times. But…right now I'm starting to think that Jacob would probably be a better leader for everyone involved because of this situation with those other leeches.

Sam couldn't believe this. What the hell was happening here? "How can you say that?"

"Because it's the truth and you know it." Paul responded with simmering anger. He turned away and pulled Sam toward the trees not wanting the others to hear so he whispered. "It's the truth Sam. This has a lot to do with Leah. You can't let her go! This is bringing you down. Don't make me tell them what you did. I don't want to, but if you press me, I will! Right now, maybe you need some time to cool off and calm down. Let Jake take control for a while and then come back…"

"Calm down! This coming from YOU! If I hadn't taught you how to control your anger or you would have murdered someone by now. Restrain isn't your forte. If Jacob becomes Alpha, do you really think you are going to be his pick for second? He hates you! Everyone knows that. He doesn't think that you are good enough for Rachel. You'll be last. I made you first and now you'll be last. Hell, he'll pick Brady and Colin over you."

Paul thought about Sam's words. They were true. He'd lose his position; he'd lose his friendship with Sam. His face tightened. "That doesn't change the fact that you aren't fit to lead. I'm your friend Sam. I care about you, but this isn't right." He walked away toward the others.

Rachel wasn't sure what the exchange Paul and Sam had, but she knew that look that she saw in her husband's eyes. It was a look of determination, one that meant that Paul had enough. Still a part of her ached for the pain he was in because he loved Sam.

Jake stood next to his grandfather watching the events taking place. He couldn't believe it. They were standing up defending him. He couldn't believe that Paul out of all people had his back. His grandfather looked at him. "The time has come for you to decide. Are you going to do what is easy? Or are you going to do what is right for your people? Are you going to be the Alpha, I know you can be." Suddenly he was not longer watching, he was now somehow back in his body standing next to Bella, her small hand pressed into his.

"Can I say something?" Bella looked at Jacob for a moment; he looked back at her with love in his eyes. The anger she had felt inside of him had now seemed to have ebbed away magically. "I want everyone to know that I am aware that I am partly to blame for this situation."

"Bells, that's not true." Jacob stated trying to pull her back. He wasn't about to let her take blame for this situation. His grandfather had been right. If he had stepped forward years ago, none of this would be happening now.

"Yes, Jake, it is. And if I thought that leaving the life that I created with you and our family would change things, I would." Jacob was furious again that she'd ever consider such a thing. "However, if I were to do that, I'd be hurting everyone I loved, most importantly you." She touched his face gently before turning toward everyone. "I could never walk away from him or from the tribe. My life is here, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." She thought for a moment wanting to use the right words to describe her feelings. "For a long time, I wasn't sure where I belonged, especially when I lost Charlie and even before that. I thought that I wanted a vampire life, a life with the Cullens. Maybe I was searching for a family." Her fingers crept up to the collar of her hoddie playing with the string in a nervous gesture she wasn't aware of. Bella wasn't used to explaining her feelings to others besides Jacob. Though Charlie and Renee did their best, we weren't always the type of family that I wanted. I found everything that I was looking for but not with the Cullens, but with a pack of crazy teenaged werewolves who ate a lot and did cliff diving." She laughed. "And a sisterhood with imprints who didn't quite mind that I wasn't officially one. I also found myself and my voice. I found out who I really was. I don't think that I could have found it anywhere else. Strange enough as it was a teen werewolf with the biggest smile and the biggest heart that I found my natural path." She looked at Jacob, her best friend, her sun. "That being said, I know that he risked a lot for me and did things you may not agree on. But that doesn't diminish who Jacob is, was or will become. Nor does it change the commitment he has made to his pack brothers. I know that Jake didn't really want to be Alpha. Truth be told, I'm not sure he wanted to become a werewolf anymore than anyone else." Bella's hands slid into her pockets thinking back to the time that Jacob changed. "I think that he was pretty happy fixing motorcycles and wrestling with Quil or playing video games with Embry. But like the others, he took on his responsibilities even when they were difficult. Just like Sam did. I don't think this really is a decision about Sam or Jake because they are two different people with two different styles. Sam was a good Alpha for the type of Alpha the boys needed when they were young." She looked over to Sam realizing the hurt he had to be feeling regardless of what he tried to do to Jake. Bella figured it was fear that had motivated him. "And I know that it probably seems almost unfair that they are pushing for Jake to lead when you gave them so much. You had nothing to go on yet you helped these men to deal with a situation that nobody else could. I thank you for that. Thanks for being there for my Jacob. I don't know what he would have done without you, but right now things have changed. Times have changed. Circumstances aren't the same. Jacob gave up the Alpha position of both packs partly because of me and the responsibility it would have left on his very young shoulders. Yet there was another reason. It was because of his deep feelings and respect for you." She stepped closer to Sam. "He loves you. You are his brother and he never would want to take anything away from you but it's time…Jacob is true Alpha, it's in his blood. Don't make the wolves choose sides. Please…do the right thing and step aside Sam."

Bella turned away from the Elders and Sam and went to stand by Jacob's side. Raw emotions burned his throat. He looked down at her for a moment, a mixture of raw possession and love shown in his eyes. "As if I'd let you leave." He told her.

"You'd hunt me down, right?" She smiled.

"Damn right I would." He told of her taking his hands in his.

"Good." She replied.

Takata looked at all the faces. "Well, I think that we've heard from everyone."

"Not everyone." Emily said quietly looking at Sam for a minute. "You heard from Jacob's wife. I only think that it's fair that you hear from me as well." She stepped forward, the beauty of her pregnancy evident to everyone there. Emily was loved and respected by all. "A lot of people had a lot to say in defense of Jacob and very little in defense Sam. I'm his wife, his imprint. I know better than anyone the type of sacrifices that Sam has made for the pack, the type that Jacob hasn't had to make. I know that Sam has done everything…" She hesitated for a moment as Leah's tight face looked at her from across the fire. "I know what he has given up and…" She closed her eyes, her fingers caressing her tiny belly. Tears streamed down her face. "I can't do this…" She whispered as she looked at her husband. "God, I love you so much but I can't do this, not even for you." She faced the Elders. "My husband has given up a lot to be Alpha. He HAS been a good leader, but he's not fit to lead anymore. You see, he used his power as Alpha, his command to try to force Leah into an inappropriate relationship with him."

There was a gasp surrounding the circle. The Elders eyes cut to Sam. They had no idea what was going on and weren't too happy about it.

"Emily, what are you doing?" Sam was stunned; he didn't understand what Emily was saying. Sam grabbed her.

"Telling the truth!" She screamed at him with raw hurt and betrayal in her eyes. She had finally had enough. She had tried to stand by him but this was too much. She couldn't play the "good wife" anymore no matter how much she still loved him. She was sick to death of lying to herself. "Finally, I'm starting to see things for what they are and not what I want them to be."

Sam felt sick to his stomach; he didn't want to hurt Emily. Never! He loved her.

"Even now as we go through this mess, your eyes are still glued to her! God, this is so humiliating, but maybe it's what I deserve for hurting Leah the way that I did." She wiped at her tears with the pack of her hand. "I never really gave much thought to the pain she felt. I guess it felt a little like this." Misery shown in her eyes she was deeply embarrassed to be doing this in front of everyone. She hated losing her composure. "A part of you still loves her. I know it. I didn't want it to be true. I prayed that I was only imagining things because I know that you love me too. Or at least I thought that you did. I know that I'm your imprint that we were made to be together but this is too much, I can't lie to myself anymore. I can't lie to them." She turned back to the Elders dismissing Sam for the moment. "Sam is losing control of his emotions. He hates Jacob, the man he used to call brother because he doesn't like Jake's closeness with Leah. Worse yet he's making personal decisions and not thinking about what is best for the pack." She inhaled trying to keep calm as she could as her pain flourished. Her fingers found the swell of her protruding belly. "Not thinking of the life we have together. It's so easy for him to blame Jacob for breaking the rules but Sam doing the same thing for not for same reasons. I'm his wife and I know him better than anyone. I'm telling you if you put him in charge of both packs he will use this to get what her really wants…her. Please don't let him succeed."

Leah wasn't sure what to make of this turn of events. The last thing she expected was Emily out of all people had come to her defense in front of everyone. Leah's chocolate eyes found Emily's pain filled ones. She and Emily would never be close, not after all that happened between them, but Leah was grateful for what she done.

Lorena looked at Sam."This news is very unsettling." She looked at the other Elders as if they were silently communicating with each other. "However, it does not change our position."

Chaos broke out all at once."What? Are you fucking crazy!" Leah screamed enraged that they still were siding with Sam.

"I'll kill you myself before I allow you to take advantage of my sister." Seth yelled at Sam who was looking at Emily as if he had never seen her before. Pain and regret shown in his eyes.

Jacob however was silently still. "She's right. It doesn't change anything."

Bella looked at Jacob like he had lost his mind. His pack became quiet.

Jake, are you serious? Roman asked him mentally.

"Yes, I'm serious. I see the truth. It doesn't matter what the Tribal Council says about this matter, this isn't a matter they can rule over."

Lorena nodded. Finally, she thought. He realizes what he has to do.

Jacob looked at her and all the other council members, and then he saw his grandfather's image standing behind them. Jacob knew what he had to do. What, he now knew, the tribal council had been pushing for him to do the moment they "supported" Sam. "I Jacob Ephraim Black, challenge Sam Uley for position of prime Alpha of the Quileute wolf pack."

Sam paled. This was the last thing he wanted."No…you can't. The decisions been made."

"He can and he will." She stood. "However, there are certain rules to this particular fight." Lorena explained. "The fight will take place in our ancient hills in a sacred spot, at tomorrow during dusk. Only members of the pack, one representative of the Tribal Council, and the wives of Sam and Jacob will be allowed to attend. This matter will be held in utmost secrecy. Takata will represent the tribe, for has he no emotional ties to either Sam Uley or Jacob Black. The men will fight in two phases, once in human form, the other as wolf form." Her face became tight. "This will be a fight to the death as it has been in our past."

Faces paled all around the circle. The wolf pack had not expected the council to take this position of a fight to the death; this was something none of them wanted.

"Death…" Bella looked at Jacob's serious face with fear. No, Jacob, you can't do this. I won't let you!