I pace around the house, unable to calm myself down. Every time I thought of bella running out of here with Alice I became more and more tense.
Jacob was watching me, his eyes following me back and forth. I felt trapped under his gaze, trapped in this house where I could only smell that sweet scent that burned my nose. It wasn't as strong anymore but it wasn't fading fast enough.
"I need some air." I say before running outside barefoot and no jacket.
"Marlie." Jacob calls after me and I grow even more annoyed that he's following me.
"Leave me alone Jacob." I spat at him but he doesn't stop. I'm starting to feel suffocated by his presence.
I head for the woods and Jacob growls, his steps quickening to cut me off. I turn and face him, my body quivering even though I didn't feel cold. I felt hot, like there was a fire burning inside of me.
"You're not going into the woods." Jacob says and I clench my fists. The quivering intensifying by the second. Jacob sighs and bits his lip, he takes a few steps back keeping his distance.
"Stop telling me what to do Jacob." I say in a low growl. He crosses his arms over his chest.
"No." He says it so calmly that something inside of me snaps.
The fires going crazy now and I close my eyes as it feels like it causing my bones to twist inside of me. I lurch forward and my spin twists. The sound of ripping fabric fills the air but it's soon followed by a low growl.
When I open my eyes I'm in a panic. I look down to find two cream colored paws. I back up in a panic and Jacob pulls off his clothes before phasing into the familiar rusty colored wolf.
He walks towards me with his ears down, "Marlie." He says in my mind and I back away from him again. "Hey, you're ok, you're fine, just relax."
"Why am I like this?" I say and he whimpers, he walks slowly over to me. He rubs his head against mine in a nuzzle and I relax.
"Jacob," Sam booms into our minds and I cower down next to Jacob. Jacob let's out a low growl, "what happened?"
"Get the pack together and I'll explain." Jacob answers.
Sam let's out a deafening demanding howl and Jacob nudges me with his nose. I get up to my feet and look down at my furry cream paws again. The rest of my legs are a dark brown and my chest is the same cream as my feet. I turn my head and find that my fur on my back is the same dark brown as my legs.
"Marlie." Jacob says and I snap my head to look at him, but he's no longer there. "See if you can find me, use your nose."
There's a buzzing of other voices as the rest of the boys phase and run towards Sam's position. I ignore them and sniff the air catching Jacob's sent on the breeze.
I trot for a few miles until I spot Jacob through the dense trees. I growl playfully at him and he turns getting on his feet and crouching in a low playful position. I run over to him and he pounces on me. We roll around on the forest floor for a few moments until he finally pins me.
"Would you two hurry up?" Paul growls and Jacob springs off of me
I shake out my fur, it's kinda long and thick but I enjoy it. "Let's see if you can keep up." Jacob says before taking off into a run.
I pin my ears down flat, ready for the challenge and take off after him. The wind is exhilarating and I catch up to Jacob with ease. After a few miles I catch the scent of the pack. We both slow down and I stick close to Jacob's side.
There's a small opening in the circle for us and Jacob keeps me between him and Embry. Embry nudges me with his nose and I nudge him back.
Leah and I are the smallest wolves in the circle. Jacob and Sam are the biggest.
"Explain everything Jacob." Sam says and Jacob begins with what Billy told him about the true alpha's and what happens to their mates his story ends with Alice's return.
Most of the pack growls at the Cullen's return. All of them ignoring the fact that a person with no Quileute blood just phased. They must be accepting of me because I'm Jacob's imprint.
"Enough." Sam says and all go quiet. I lean into Jacob and he rests his head on the top of mine. "Jared and I are on the first night patrol. Leah and Paul will take the second. Jacob and Embry first day shift and Paul and I will take the second. Seth and Marlie you two stay with school, get your studies done. Marlie," he says getting up and sitting right in front of me. I cower just a bit and meet his eyes so that he knows he has my full attention, "that redhead comes around the house and none of us are there, phase but don't try anything just alert us and we'll get there."
I nod my head and he nudges me with his nose. I take this as a mutual wolf thing because no one seems surprised by this.
"Dismissed." Sam says and the group disbands.
I look at Jacob and he nuzzles me. I rub my head against his chest.
"Come on," Jacob says before standing up, "I'll race you home."
~T~
Bella was gone for three days and each day that passed I felt more and more angry. When she finally called dad to tell him that she was coming home I was pretty much ready to explode. She was luck that I actually had some control over my phasing. I wasn't randomly exploding like the rest of the wolves. I just couldn't believe she would put dad and I through that, especially right after Harry's death.
Today is Harry's funeral and Bella should be getting back tonight. It was really going to be an emotional day.
I've never been to a funeral before so I just dressed in a plain black pencil skirt and a cream colored top. Sue didn't want anyone to wear all black since we weren't mourning a death but celebrating a life.
"Bug you ready?" My dad calls from the front door and I slip on my black flat since it was the only nice shoes that I had. My hair is curled and I even applied a light layer of makeup.
When I walk out I find my dad with red eyes. He's been crying for the past three days but I've never actually seen it, just the aftermath which was red eyes and sniffles.
The funeral is in La Push, they have a small cemetery there for the tribes elders. The ride is silent and rainy.
When we pull up to the small funeral home we find Jacob waiting outside for us. He runs over to the cruiser and opens the door for me, he pulls off his jacket and uses to cover my head from the rain.
"You ok?" I ask Jacob and he nods his head. I knew he and Billy were taking it hard.
"You?" He asks and I nod my head. "It's an open casket." Jacob says and a lump in my throat forms. I didn't want to remember Harry as dead. I wanted to remember him living, how he was when he was around us a kids or when he always made fish fry for special occasions.
I choke on my sob and Jacob crushes me into him. He presses a kiss to the top of my head and then leads me into the small packed room where the funerals about to start.
~T~
I sit between my dad and Jacob, on the other of Jacob is Billy. We're sitting right behind the Clearwater's, seats Sue had only wanted us to fill. We were like family.
Seth stands up and makes his way for the podium. Jacob and the other wolves that are scattered around the room tense up in fear that with the emotional distress Seth might phase in front of all these people.
"I- I've been having a really hard time figuring out what I've been wanting to say here. I don't think we ever plan the words we want to say at a funeral since death arrives so quickly." Seth swallows and stares at the paper in front of him, "My dad was a really great guy. He always had a joke or a few wise words not only for Leah and me, but for Marlie and Jacob as well. We all looked up to him and looked forward to his famous fish fry on birthdays." The room chuckles and Seth gives a small smile.
"My dad would always tell me that we shouldn't mournful when he died but celebrational. We should celebrate because he lived a life a man could be proud of and while we may all be deeply saddened by this sudden loss, we should be happy that we all knew and learned but this great guy." Seth then looks over at the open casket. His eyes tearing up, "I- I love you, dad."
Seth makes his way awkwardly back to the bench where his mother and sister wait. Eye's fall on Leah who is currently crumbling her speech into a ball. Sue puts a hand on Leah's shoulder but she brushes it off.
Leah stands and walks out of the small room. People begin to murmur and Seth gets up to follow her but I shake my head getting up. Jacob grabs my arm but brush him off.
"It's fine Jacob, let me talk to her." I say and he nods. I follow Leah outside into the rain and find her on the edge of the forest.
"Leah," I say carefully and she casts a look over her shoulder. She nods her head for me to join her and I do so without a second thought.
I looked up to Leah when I was little, I always used to try and tag along with her friends. She hated it but I knew she still cared about me because even after she told me no she would bring me along anyways.
"I'm glad that your a wolf." Leah says and I smirk at her. "I really am Mar."
"You want to go for a run?" I ask her and she nods her head. We disappear into the woods and put are clothes in a neat pile in a hallowed out tree.
Leah phases and I soon follow suit. We were the two fastest in the pack, but Leah was still faster by a few strides. I soon loose sight of her but can still follow her by her scent.
She's stopped in a clearing with her hackles raised and her teeth barred. I pause and sniff the air the scent of vampire filling my nose. I growl but stay in my spot, a sudden move on my part could cause the redhead to flee.
"No one else has phased yet have they?" I ask and Leah shakes snaps her jaw.
"No." She says and we hear a tree branch snap, "She's coming." Leah says and my eyes focus on the redhead just as she runs head on into Leah knocking her over.
Leah whimpers in pain and I run over to her standing over her protectively. I let out a low howl for the boys. The redhead appears at the end of the clearing, the way I came through and stands there taunting me.
I growl low and take a step forward with all my teeth barred. "Marlie." Jacob says but I don't take my eyes off her.
Leah gets up slowly and takes her place next to me. "Chase her over towards us." Sam says and we take a step towards her in unison.
"Are you guys ready?" Leah asks and Paul chuckles.
"We're always ready Leah." Paul answers and then the two of us slink forward.
I snap my jaw and then Leah and I take off after her. She tries to jet right but I corral her back on path.
"We're really going to get her this time." Jared says before he and Embry take off from the lift side of us, they push her towards the thicker trees but instead of running she jumps into them.
Jacob and Sam appear running full force. Sam pulls ahead of Jacob and allows him to use his back as a step to jump into the air. The redhead kicks Jacob's jaw and he falls with a crunch.
I growl but the boys and Leah are already chasing her on foot as she tries to escape through the trees.
I whimper and nudge him with my nose. He gets up slowly and I help him up by pushing my body against his.
"You ok?" I ask him and he nips at my ear playfully.
"I'm fine Mar." He answers and the air explodes with angry howls and snarls.
"She escaped through the Cullen's territory." Same informs us and Jacob let's out a fierce howl.
~T~
The silver Volvo pulls in front of our house and I growl. Jacob puts a hand on my shoulder, "Relax."
They walk up the house slowly, hand in hand and my dad grunts. He throws open the door and points to my sister.
"Inside now." He spats and Bella flushes a crimson before walking inside. Edward starts to follow her but my dad stops him, "You aren't to step through my front door, understand? You give my daughter hell for months and then try to walk in here like nothing's changed, who do you think you are?"
"Dad." Bella say and I glare at her. "What?" She snaps and I shake my head at her.
My dad turns Edward away and Jacob and I slip outside after him just as my dad explodes.
"I want to talk to you." I say to Edward and he rolls his eyes. Jacob growls and I put a hand on his arm.
"What do you have to say Marlie?" Edward says and I bite my lip trying to keep myself under control. "I'm not staying away from Bella so save your breath."
"I wasn't going to tell you to stay away from her but I am going to say this. If you ever hurt my sister again I will personally rip you apart and burn the pieces one by one." I say and Edward takes a step away from me. He must realize what I am because he shakes his head.
He retreats back to his car and Jacob chuckles at me. "You can be very threatening when you need to be."
"Oh, that wasn't a threat. That was a promise." I say and Jacob swallows before sliding his arm around me.
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