Chapter 25 – Billy POV

Disclaimer – Don't own it – wish I did.

A/N – Happy New Year! Here is my first post of the year. Thanks for all the favs, follows, and reviews. It makes me giddy to see that people are enjoying my story as much as I enjoy writing it! Please leave a little love in the box. :)

We finish our steaks just as the pizza arrives. Charlie deposits it on the kitchen table.

He looks at me after dealing with the pizza and sighs. "We've been friends for a long time haven't we?"

I don't look up from my plate but grunt out an "uh-huh" as I take a bite of potatoes.

"So are you going to tell me what's going on with my daughter? I'm not as thick as I seem. There is a reason I'm Chief of Police."

I put my fork down and meet my best friend's eyes. "I'm not sure what to say."

"Maybe you would rather tell me about the changes in Jacob then."

My mind is whirling as I try to figure out what he already knows.

"He's bulked up overnight. Or maybe about the new tattoo on his arm that's already fully healed. How about the fact that he growled at me, laid claim to my daughter, and was ready to attack me? I'm no fool Billy."

I sigh and lean back closing my eyes for a moment.

"I remember the legends we heard as kids. I also remember when we were five and got lost trying to get from your house to mine. I told you then that I saw a wolf. The next thing we know your grandfather comes walking up to us to lead us back to your house."

He gets up and heads to the kitchen. After grabbing a couple of beers from the fridge he comes back in handing me one and sitting down.

"And then there is Sam Uley. He found Bella so deep in the woods none of my officers were even close to her. She would have died out there before we found her. Yet *somehow* Sam manages to find her inside of an hour of me talking to you."

"I sent Sam out to look for her Charlie. It's just a matter of luck our prayers were answered." I try to assure my friend.

"He has the same tattoo as I saw on Jacob's arm Billy. I am pretty sure it is the same one your grandfather had too."

"I haven't said anything up to this point because I figured you had your people in hand and there wasn't a need. Now my daughter has herself wrapped up in it and I want to know what's going on."

He crosses his arms and looks at me with his cop face. "So are you going to tell me what's going on my friend or shall I activate the GPS locater on Bella's truck and go ask them?"

I look at my oldest friend and release the burden of secrecy I have been carrying.

"Your right Charlie, the old legends are true. The Spirit Warriors are real and we have an active pack today. The Cold Ones are real too. My Grandfather made a treaty with a Coven of them when he had first phased. That coven returned to Forks and that is what triggered the new pack to phase."

I can see Charlie trying to think back to who came into town when Sam first changed.

"The Cullens … They're the Cold Ones …" He talks through his thinking. "Their vampires!" He jumps out of his seat and starts pacing. His voice gets louder with each pass by. "MY DAUGHTER WAS DATING A FUCKING VAMPIRE! … SHE WAS DATING A BLOODSUCKER AND YOU KNEW IT! … YOU KNEW IT AND DIDN'T BOTHER TO TELL ME! … SHE COULD HAVE BEEN A SNACK AND NEVER KNEW IT!..."

I keep my voice low and even as I interrupt his ranting. "She knew Charlie."

"WHAT?"

"She knew what they were. She knew and she chose to be with them."

He sits down heavily in the chair again.

"I tried to talk her out of being around them. I knew that if she went through with her plans to become one of them it would destroy you to lose her and to think she was dead.

"She knew and wanted to become one of them? What did I do to make her want to die?"

"It wasn't something you did. It is part of what they are, how they lure in their prey."

His face is buried in his hands. "Is that why she wouldn't get over him when he left her?"

"That and the bite she received in Phoenix. We think it made her more susceptible to them."

"He bit her!" His face is beat red and I am starting to fear for his health. "Her wrist!"

"From what I understand, a different Cold One bit her and Edward sucked out the venom to stop her from changing into one of them."

"So if they come back, she will go to be with them." His fear dripped from his question.

"That's not an issue anymore. The taint was removed by one of the wolves."

"Billy, don't talk in circles right now. I need facts. Simple truths I can wrap my mind around."

I roll myself into the kitchen and grab us more beers. I hand my friend one and he acknowledges it with a nod of thanks.

"I've known Bella and Jacob were destined for each other just like we talked about since they were little. I didn't know about the bite until the other day. But I was terrified that if you sent her to Renee she would die. I was praying that the bond she and Jacob shared would pull her out of her depression. As you saw it was working Saturday night. I didn't expect Jacob to phase the same night but he did. He and Bella imprinted. His wolf purged the taint."

"So they are …" He gestures with his hands making rough motions of fitting them together. "… together?"

"Honestly Charlie, I don't think they have yet but I think that's what they left to do."

He tenses up and looks to the door.

"Charlie, she is eighteen. They love each other and are soul bound already. What they decide to do together is between them. Jacob will die to keep her safe and happy. Jacob and the pack will be facing a group of psychotic bloodsuckers to protect her in the next couple of days."

He interrupts obviously feeling exasperated "She has a bunch of vampires after her?"

"Yes, she is being hunted by a vamp looking for revenge for the Cullens killing her mate in Phoenix. The Cullens are back to help remove the threat from Bella."

"WHAT?! Their back!" He is up again pacing. "How do I kill them?"

"We don't my friend. They have agreed to help get rid of the threat to Bella and to leave here for good. The new Alpha made it clear that the old treaty is no more."

"Who is this new Alpha that is making decisions for my daughter's life?" He demands.

"Jacob is the new Alpha. He has made these choices for his pack, his people, and for his mate. I will admit I didn't like it to start with but without their help the likelihood of them succeeding is much smaller. If Bella dies so will Jacob. He cannot live without her."

"How the hell are we supposed to just sit here and let all this happen around us?"

"As much as I wish it was, it's not our fight. If the pack fails then the Cold Ones will wipe out all of La Push. So we pray to the Spirits and we support our kids as best we can."

A howl rings out across the night sky. It is quickly followed by a chorus of answering howls.

"What's that about?" Charlie asks nervously as he looks out the window.

"I don't know for sure but I would be willing to bet that they have completed the imprint."

"Someone's coming." Charlie moves to the door and I roll over.

Harry comes up. "Hay there Charlie, I didn't know you would be here."

"Part of me wishes I weren't." Charlie gets his beer and drains it. "I could use a few more and that was the last of them."

Harry gives me a look asking what is going on.

"I told him Harry. He had figured out most of it and it affects him too."

"Harry knows and I didn't! Geez thanks buddy." Charlie snipes.

Harry steps in "No one beyond the council is meant to know. You are the first person not part of the tribe to know."

"Let's go get some more beer and try to forget for the night." Charlie suggests. "I don't have to be in tomorrow."

Harry smiles "I'll drive you over."

Harry and Charlie make a run to Joy's. I call her and ask that she stays open for them if they are not there by nine o'clock. She agrees and they are back with two cases in less than a half hour.

An hour and several beers later Charlie is swinging from smiling that our kids found each other like we had always wanted to saying how he will be a better dad just as long as they survive the coming fight. By eleven o'clock he had fallen asleep on the couch.

I roll over to the front door. "Who's out here tonight?" Embry walks out of the trees. "Can you get Charlie into the girls' room please?"

"Sure thing Billy. Whoa! Did he drink all of this?"

"Not all but a lot of it. I told him the truth. He needed it. You can sleep in the other bed in there instead of outside. We may need the extra pair of hands if he and Jacob get into it in the morning."

"I doubt he will be up by the time we head out. We start again at three."

"Well then we all need some rest."

Harry says, "I will take the cruiser home and bring it back in the morning."

"Sounds good Harry, thanks for your help tonight."

"We have been friends for all our lives. I have hated keeping him in the dark and now we don't have to. It will all be for the best."

Harry heads out the door and Embry helps me into bed. "Good night Embry."

"Night Chief."

I lie in my bed staring at the ceiling. I hope I did right by Charlie. I hope he really understands that I didn't want to keep him in the dark but I felt I didn't have a choice. Our friendship has weathered many a trial; I hope it weathers this one as well.