Chapter Twenty Five
Authors Note: PLEASE READ!
I received a review from someone who made me start thinking about Charlie more than I have been. As stated before in the context female shape shifters can only be paired with other shape shifters; and I really don't want to pair him with a leech. So this is up to you readers; shall the Swan family line have a deep dark secret? And if so what? Do they also shape shift? Note the bold is to catch the eye of those who don't read these: D
ON WITH THE STORY
"Oh my god" Bella groaned "How many states have been be through"
"Twelve" I replied simply, her eyes grew wider.
"No" She gasped running her hands down the window making people stare at us from the sidewalks.
"Bella you're going to make me…" The flashing red lights appeared from two cops cars. "Get pulled over" I finished, she turned to me sweetly.
"I was just trying to keep entertained"
"I know, but I think you scared the locals" I tell her pulling to the side of the road.
"Sir I'm going to have to ask you to step out of your car" I look to Bella to see her texting Jared, I guess we won't meet up with him in ten for lunch then.
"Is there a problem officer" I ask slipping off my seat belt slowly.
"I need to see some identification from both of you"
"What's going on here" Someone asked, I look over the cops shoulder as I get out of the car, and a group of shape shifters stood watching.
"Got a distress call from someone in town, spotted a green car with a distressed female in the front seat."
"She was just bored, we've been driving for the past three weeks"
"Oh yeah? Whys that?"
"Visiting family"
"Likely story?"
"It's true, this is our cousin Jacob" Okay I feel a little weirded out, the shape shifters nod to me, as I hand to cop my ID.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry sir. You may go" He muttered not looking at my ID, he slowly walked back to his car not taking his eyes off me.
"Sorry about that" One greets, shaking my hand. "Nice to finally meet you Jacob would like to join us for lunch?"
"Uh sure, Bells call Jared and Kim"
"Already on it" She called stepping out of the car coming to stand by me.
"Tell your friends to meet us at Denny's"
"They're already there" The alpha laughs. I get back into the car with Bella and drive twenty yards and pull into the Denny's parking lot where Jared and Kim are standing by their car.
"You were seriously pulled over bro?"
"Oh shut up" I slap the back of his head "it was Bella's fault anyways if she hadn't looked like a kid nap victim"
"Well if I had something to do in the car"
"Well what would you like to do in the car Bella"
"I think it's time for presents" Kim announced handing Bella a pink DS
"Thank god" I mutter, earning a slap from Bella and Kim and then Jared.
"I felt left out?" He asked, "Oh hey why are we being watched?"
"Oh shoot, these are the Maine packs"
"Are there other side packs?" Jared asked.
"You're just a smart ass aren't you?" He shrugged.
"Welcome Jacob and friends; shall we have some lunch before heading back to Forks?" The alpha whom I haven't learned the name of yet asked holding his hand out to the large table in the back. Kim and Bella slide in to the booth first followed by Jared and I then the other shape shifters.
"So…." Kim states breaking the silence making everyone look at her. "Well will someone just start talking the whole restaurant is on edge" She yelled throwing her hands up in the air.
"My name is Austin, I am the alpha of my pack and the elder of the Maine council in shape shifters." Wow they had a council? I didn't even know there were other packs besides ours before this shit erupted.
"Nice to meet you, I'm sure you know who I am by now. This is my imprint Bella, Jared and his imprint Kim." I introduced my part of the table.
"This is Andrew, my second. James, Dakota, Jon, and Spencer who are the other Alphas. How big do your packs run?"
"We have three packs currently. Although I haven't been home in a while to see the new numbers of them. My dad Sam Uley sr. and jr are the pack leaders. I run Alpha for my father; and if the number increase then I'll get my own pack."
"Wow, you must have many cold ones in your area" I shrug Bella tenses up beside me. I follow her gaze to two red eyes outside the window. Why did we have to be in a booth? I can't stand up in this thing. The eye watch me, shit what have we done. Collecting all the packs have left these towns vulnerable. They watch us from afar, they looked familiar somehow. The smell hits me when a door is opened and closed suddenly; everyone grows still. As the group before us stands to hunt the red eyes flee into the woods quicker than the speed of light.
"We'll get them, you four get out of here" He suggests, Jared and I stand with the males before taking Kim and Bella's hand and running to our cars.
"We cant just back down from a fight" Jared yells.
"This isn't our territory. If we phase it will be taken the wrong way and we and our imprints will be killed on sight. DO you really want that Jared" He shook his head fumbling with the car key before Kim snatched it out of his hand and calmly unlocked the doors. Bella was already in the car waiting as I watched the woods shake from the chase. I couldn't tell if it were wolves they changed into or not they moved quickly in one direction as we moved in the other.
"What's going on?" Bella asked as I finally got into the car.
"Vampires" I spit, turning the car on. She freezes up again. "You're fine, I won't let them touch you. Let's get home we have a day or so of driving ahead of us." She nods pulling out her DS Kim gave her and begins playing something with a dogs bark in it.
Hours pass and soon we pull over for gas. The way back is a lot spookier now that I know there are no packs here to protect the cities. Who knows what leeches are still out here feeding on the humans? Jared fills up his car, while I keep an eye on the girls, and then I fill up my car while he takes them to the bathroom and to get a snack. Nobody but the gas station attendant is around, there isn't a smell of any animal, shape shifter or leech. An eerie feeling washes over my as the gallons number ticks by slowly. Finally the gas clicks off (making me jump) signaling I've reached my 40 dollar of allowed gas, and I replace the nozzle and gas cap and head inside to find the girls. Jared stands outside the bathroom snacks in hand as he waits for them to get out of the bathroom.
"Something feels off" he informs me, I nod understanding.
"Maybe were just psyching ourselves out." He shrugs, standing up straighter as the girls leave the bath room giggling. Maybe they didn't feel anything wrong. It must be in our heads then. My gut tugs. Nope not in my head.
"Let's get out of here" I suggest he nods putting the food down and heading back to the car. I follow him out holding Bella to my side. I get into my car and look over to Jared's before locking my door; not that it will stop anything that is actually dangerous but seemed like a good thing to do.
"Kim wants to ride with us so we can connect our DS for a puppy play date" Bella tells me. I nod and see Kim run from her car to ours in seconds. Jared watches carefully as she goes not relaxing until she is in our car, then he relaxes a little bit. Jared then pulls out his phone and calls someone holding the phone to his ear. After about ten minutes he puts the phone away and starts his car before signaling for me to follow.