Chapter 25 - Futile

A/N: Obviously, I do not own Twilight. I am working on becoming a published author, but until then, I waste time using Stephenie Meyer's characters to create my own characters, if that makes any sense. LOL. So yes, I do own Norah and Rowan Black and Levi Uley and Charley Clearwater. :D

Chapter is in Levi's POV again.

Jacob and I had split off from Charley and Embry to search for Norah. I was surprised that Jacob had sacrificed spying and intervening in his other daughter's relationship long enough to help me find Norah without going crazy. I knew that had I been forced to endure this trip with Charlotte Clearwater, I probably would have just decided to jump off a cliff and said to hell with it all.

I could see that Jacob missed his daughter. I knew the two of them had been close, but Jacob had no idea how much pain I was going through. Norah was in my thoughts, in my dreams, and no matter how hard I tried, the desperate need to be with her was so strong that I was literally in pain. It hurt so bad. I couldn't see, couldn't think, couldn't move. The pain basically immobilized me. That's why it took us so long to get anywhere. It took us almost a whole day to make it to the University of Oregon. No luck. So, we'd turned around and headed to back to Seattle to check up on a few other leads.

Someone in Seattle had seen a beat-up, rusty old Volkswagon Rabbit traveling east on some interstate. I hadn't really been able to pay much attention to what the person in the gas station was saying. I was too wired, too frustrated, too worried to even rationally think that some stranger that didn't even know my imprint would have the capacity to know where the hell she'd gone. But Jacob apparently thought that east suggested one of the other colleges on Norah's list - the University of Montana, located in a city called Missoula.

It took us a long while, but we made it to Missoula. We went to the University Police Department and told them that we were looking for a missing girl, age eighteen, who had vanished from the La Push Native American reservation. The police officer had looked at Jacob and I strangely and when Jacob said that her name was Norah Black, his eyes narrowed in recognition.

"You must be her family," he had said. "Norah warned us that you would be looking for her and strictly told us not to disclose her whereabouts."

At that point, Jacob growled viciously. "You know where my daughter is and from the way you're beating around the bush about it, you're helping to hide her."

"Mr. Black, your daughter isn't in this town, I can assure you that. She stayed with us for a day or so. She left last week but told me and my family not to disclose where she was going. She said that she didn't exactly have a place to go in mind, but she knew that if she stayed here long enough you'd find her. She didn't say why she was running in the first place, but now that the two of you have shown up, I seem to know exactly why. Now if you don't get off of the University property, I'll lock the two of you up overnight for trespassing."

Jacob's eyes narrowed even more and he started shaking uncontrollably.

"Jake - Jacob, come on. We'll find her. She's not here," I said, not wanting him to phase in front of the police. Obviously, we looked weird enough coming up here and demanding to know where Norah had gone. Two big hairy wolves running around the University of Montana would create a national sensation, one that Jacob would probably beat me for later.

He slowly calmed down.

"Buddy, if I don't find my daughter, your ass will be mine," he threatened.

We turned around and headed out of the campus.

"Something tells me we need to head south," I found myself saying. "I don't know why, but something's telling me to." I couldn't explain it. There was a warmth in my chest pushing backward as I stood in front of Jacob. I realized that Jacob was facing southward and I, in fact, was facing north. The warmth in my chest was pushing backward, southward. I couldn't figure out what it was.

"Are you sure?" Jacob asked. "I mean, she just as easily could have gone further east, across the Rockies, or north to Canada..." he trailed off.

"But there's nothing for her in Canada," I insisted. "And the Rabbit would have never made it over the Rocky Mountains."

"True," he sighed. "Alright," he said. "Come on." We headed into a nearby park and phased, tying our clothes back to our legs.

We stopped for the night just past Rexburg, Idaho. Once again, the pain had pretty much taken over. I couldn't move, couldn't think, and couldn't figure out what direction we needed to take. Jacob sighed and we decided to stop at Yellowstone National Park. It was a beautiful park, but I couldn't even think or move to enjoy the view. Once again, I was shaking through spasms of pain. I curled up into a ball and buried my nose in my fur, trying to muffle my whimpers.

Jacob looked over at me pitifully.

We'll find her, Levi. I promise, if it's the last thing I do, I'll find her.

Hey, Jacob? Charlotte was thinking now, her thoughts filled with anxiety.

What? Jacob asked, momentarily distracted from my physical and emotional pain.

We have a small problem, Embry said bitterly.

What's that? Jacob asked, his eyes getting big.

Two more wolves phased, Charlotte said. Her thoughts showed another steel gray wolf and a black wolf with a white spot on his chest.

Jacob shook in anger. What the hell? The damn Cullens are causing this again! he roared in outrage.

Will and Aiden, Embry said. Actually, Aiden phased before we even left. Seems like he's been running through the woods. Seth and Leah found him after Emily and Sam realized that he hadn't come back. I guess they figured he was out with Rowan or something... And most of us were distracted by Norah going missing.

I was able to tear myself away from the physical pain I was feeling to contribute a bit to the conversation.

Briony said that Aiden wasn't in his room the other night, but no one caught it. We were all panicking about the fact that Norah had disappeared.

True, Jacob said. But still! It's our responsibility to make sure that nothing like this happens!

It was an accident, Jacob, Charley replied. He's fine now and he understands that the pack was a little bit chaotic since Norah disappeared and half the pack had gone to look for her.

Aiden's a good-natured kid. He thinks it's cool that he gets to be like his older brother, Emby said, stifling a laugh.

And Will? Jacob asked. Is he okay?

I think he was a little shaken at first, but that's completely normal. He didn't fight it like Rowan did, Embry replied. He said that he'll do whatever he's supposed to do. He said he'd put in his time when he was needed, but like Rowan, he doesn't really want it to control him.

Well, we don't all get that option, I seethed. Watch him imprint and then he'll probably go through the same thing I'm going through.

Levi! Charley chastized me.

Well, it's true, I said. Had Norah not disappeared, I wouldn't be going through this right now.

Well, we're heading further south, Embry said, changing the subject. We're in Sacremento right now. We're going to head to Los Angeles and look around there and then we're going to head over to Phoenix. Since Bella was originally from Phoenix, Norah could have gone there.

Makes sense, Jacob replied. I think we're going to cut through the Shoshone Forest and then head toward Denver. That's a rather large city and Norah could have easily decided to go there. She was in Missoula, but left by the time we got there.

Alright, Embry said. We'll check in later if we find anything interesting.

Oh, and Embry? Jacob said sweetly. Please keep your hands to yourself, he growled.

Sure thing, Embry laughed.

They pulled back out of our range and soon, the dead quiet set in.

Jacob, you're not mad at me, are you? I found myself asking.

For what? You didn't cause all of this, Jacob replied. You didn't tell Norah to run away.

No, I conceded. But she ran away because I was a fool and messed things up. Our relationship wasn't ready for a pregnancy scare. We're just kids and we got in the heat of the moment and then royally fucked things up.

I'll excuse the pun, Jacob said dryly. Look, I'd be stupid and naive if I told the two of you not to have sex. That would be completely hypocritical of me since I was only seventeen when Norah was born. We had sex with the intentions of having a baby because Bella was going to marry a bloodsucker and she wanted a child before she didn't have the opportunity anymore. I wouldn't take back that decision because it led to Bella choosing me over the bloodsucker. So yes, I probably overreacted a bit. What father wouldn't try to protect his daughter if he could? I can't tell you how many times Charlie begged me not to hurt Bella emotionally. Sure, it happened here and there. I was just lucky he liked me more than Cullen.

I'm not saying that the two of you should go ahead and start a family now. I'd much prefer it if you waited first and got married after Norah finishes her online coursework and stuff. But if it happened, it really wouldn't be the end of the world. And I'd do my best to be understanding, just like I am now. I mean, yeah, it does tick me off a bit that you had sex with my baby girl. And I really don't want to have to think about it because that's just... awkward. And definitely not my place. But I like you, Levi. You're a good kid. You've got my daughter's best interests at heart and you're her imprint. The two of you are young and in love. You just need to work on timing a little more and not letting your hearts and fantasies of the future get in the way of you having a strong and lasting relationship.

The pain had ebbed a little and I was finally able to move again. I got up and turned around and made myself a little more comfortable.

Thanks, Jake, I replied.

No problem. Just take what I said to heart. And don't mess things up again. And now, if you don't mind, I'm going to try to get some sleep. It's been a long day and we have to try to get to Denver tomorrow.

I groaned. It was going to be a long trip. And for some reason, I wasn't even sure if Norah was in Denver.

Another kind of short chapter. But I've written about 5,000 words in two days, so woot. :)

Review question: Should Norah stay in Salt Lake or travel somewhere else?

Thanks for reading! Please review!

Much love,
xoxo