Chapter Twenty Eight: An End and a Beginning

I'm not concerned about

all hell breaking loose,

but that a part of hell

will break loose… It'll be

much harder to detect.

~George Carlin

It was only a week later that Quil joined the pack. He shocked us all by being excited about it. He was glad to have his friends back and to be in the know, being a wolf was just an added bonus to him. He thought being a part of the supernatural was the coolest thing ever and being part of it with his friends was just the cherry on top. He was cocky boy and he definitely made things interesting when he hung around the house with the others.

This week is Spring break and I have seen more of my sister in the last few weeks than when we lived in the same house. She was over while Jacob was on patrol and as soon as he arrived they would leave. Even though we both knew everything now there was still no communication. It was as if she was using this as something else to hate me for, even though once again I had no control over what was going on. She talked as little as possible and mainly stuck to TV when she was here to wait for Jacob. Sam was a little uneasy about the time she spent here at the house because he feared that if Victoria did find her here on the rez it would bring her straight to me and anyone else that stopped by the house regularly.

The only good thing about this was that dad was around more. He would either have dinner with the Blacks or he would stop over here. He and Sam really started get along and I was glad. You always heard the horror stories of how the father or mother-in-law would hate the son or daughter-in-law, but thankfully that was not the case for us. Allison came over all the time with Natalie to help with wedding plans or even to help cook for the boys.

I was just starting lunch when the door bell rang. I made a move for the door, but stopped when Sam said he got it.

"Morning Charlie. How are you doing today?" Sam asked and I smiled as I peeked around the corner at my father.

"I'm doing fine. I just wanted to talk with you and Sunny about something." He said gruffly.

"Well then come on in. You can stay for lunch, it will be done in a little bit." I said and dad smiled. Sam moved out of the way to let dad inside.

"So what's on your mind?" I asked as I got all of us a drink and set them on the table.

"I was wondering if you and Sam had gotten wedding bands yet." Dad said and we shook our heads.

"We're planning to go to Port Angeles and look at rings in a few weeks." Sam explained.

"Well I went through some of the things that I had inherited when my parents died." Dad said and I wondered where this was going. He never talked about losing my grandparents, the subject was always a sort of taboo with him. Dad reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small pouch, turning it upside down to drop it's contents into the palm of his hand.

"These are your grandparents wedding rings. They wore them for forty five years of a happy marriage." Dad said and I felt the tears in my eyes at the gesture dad was suggesting to us.

"I thought the two of you could talk it over and if you would like I would be happy to give you the rings." Dad said as he looked between the two of us. I didn't remember much about my grandparents because they had died when I was barely eight, but from what I do remember they loved each other dearly. I looked at Sam and he seemed to be thinking hard about this.

"We'll talk about it later." I said and stood from my seat to move around the table to hug dad.

"Thank you for the suggestion, it means a lot." I said and dad cleared his throat roughly. He didn't want to show affection in front Sam, fearing Sam would think him soft.

"You're welcome." He said and the oven beeped saving him from further confrontation with an emotional discussion.

"There's something else I was hoping to discuss with you, Sam." Dad said as he finished his lunch. He seemed more at ease now so I knew it had nothing to do with a subject needing emotion.

"What would that be?" Sam asked as he leaned forward a little.

"You know about how we've been leading a hunt for the wolves." Dad said and looked at Sam for confirmation.

"Yes, I'm aware." Sam said with a nod.

"We haven't been having very much luck and I know that you and some of the other men around here are great trackers. I would like to know if you would consider joining the hunting party." Dad said and I stood to take the plates and moved into the kitchen to wash them. This would be a sore subject with Sam and I didn't want to be in the room. I could still hear what they were talking about, but I was out of the room and it gave them the illusion of privacy.

"Charlie, the tribe has a law against hunting wolves." Sam said.

"I'm not asking for you to pick up a gun and hunt with us. I'm simply asking that you lend us your tracking skills. These wolves are a danger to the people in the forest." Dad said and I cringed, knowing what was coming.

"Then people should learn to stay out of a forest that is known for bears, wolves and other predators. I know that wolves don't attack for no reason. The missing people probably provoked the animals and if it's rabid it could already be dead. Doesn't take long for an animal to succumb to rabies. There is no sense in continuing to hunt for the animal if it's already dead or by putting the men involved in the search at risk from the other predators or accidents in the forest." Sam said.

"I feel that I have hit a sore spot." Dad said.

"If we don't find anything and nothing happens in the next week, I'll call off the hunt." Dad said and I sighed in relief. Now Victoria only had to stay away for a week and the boys would be able to relax a little.

"I'm sorry for my temper, Charlie. I just can't blame an animal for the stupidity of those people that have gone into the forest knowing what has happened so recently. Common sense should have been used and they should have thought better than to go out there knowing what was going on." Sam said and dad sigh.

"We had been warning everyone and I agree that some were irrational in their decisions." He agreed as I could hear his fingers tapping on the table.

"Well I'll get out of your hair." Dad said and I heard his the chair move back from the table. Sam and dad rounded the corner. Sam picked up a towel and set to drying the dishes that I had already washed.

"I'll talk to you later, baby girl. Got plans at the Clearwaters'." Dad said and gave a kiss to my forehead.

"Say hi to Sue for me." I said and he nodded.

"Will do." He said as let himself out.

"So what do you think about your dad's offer?" Sam asked as he leaned against the counter and dried the skillet that I had washed.

"Which one?" I peered up at him to see he was focused on the towel in his hand as he dried the skillet.

"Either." He said with a shrug.

"The hunting party should have ended after two weeks and no results." I said and worked on a grease stain on the spatula I was cleaning.

"The rings, I think should be your call. I have no problem wearing the same ring as my grandmother did. In fact all I remember about my grandparents is how much in love they were. That would definitely be a relationship goal if we hadn't already achieved it." I said and smiled at Sam.

"I think that it would give an added personal touch to our vows. I know it would mean a lot to your father." Sam said and I shook my head.

"Don't let my father sway your judgment." I said and handed him a plate.

"I wasn't. I just know that the things that mean a lot to your father, tend to mean a lot to you, too. I know that wearing something with a lot of meaning would make it more special to you and I actually like the idea. Plus you and your father said that they were happily married, maybe some of that happiness is left in those rings." Sam said and pulled me to him to kiss my head.

"I like the idea, too. Though I don't think we need a good luck charm." I said with a bright smile.

"A little extra help never hurt." Sam said with a shrug and I laughed.

I called dad the next day and told him that Sam and I would love to use the rings for our wedding bands. Dad said that he would give them to us the next time he saw us. He also suggested that we still go to a jeweler and check the sizes. The rings were gorgeous and were made out of a similar metal as my engagement ring, so they would match. It almost seemed like this was planned, but I no longer question the world and it's ways. Somethings are just meant to be.

Today is gloomy, a big storm is just off the shore and threatening to wreck havoc. I don't know why, but I have been on edge since I woke up this morning. I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach that something was going to happen today and I prayed that it had nothing to do with dad and the hunting party in their last ditch efforts to hunt down the pack. The feeling wasn't ebbing, even with the evening rolling in to end the day. Sam and the guys had been out all day circling La Push as well Forks to keep an eye on the hunters.

As the storm rolled in a howl went up and the pit in my stomach could have formed a gorge. I hated that there was no way to contact the pack while they were wolves and especially if they were chasing Victoria. I paced and tried to focus on anything other than the fear that was giving me an ulcer. I about jumped out of my skin when the door banged open. Paul stood in the doorway with a pained look on his face.

"What happened? What's wrong?" I asked as I rushed toward him. I hadn't realized that the rain had start to pour till I saw that Paul was dripping wet.

"Harry." Paul's voice cracked as he spoke. He cleared his throat and tried again.

"Leah and Seth phased this afternoon. The shock caused Harry to have a heart attack." Paul said and I felt the tears start to fall down my face.

"Is he going to be alright? Is my dad with him?" I asked and reached for my keys. Paul grabbed my hand and shook his head.

"He didn't make it to the hospital." He said.

"Sam sent me to bring you to the house. He figures that your dad is going to need you." Paul said and I nodded grabbing my jacket and putting it on. I looked at Paul and I knew there was something else.

"There's something else. What is it Paul?" I asked and he shook his head.

"It's under control and not important at the moment." He said quickly and grabbed his keys off the counter, rushing me out the door to his truck.

I hated to see my dad hurting especially over one of his best friends, It made me worry more about him. He wasn't any younger than Harry and lived similarly. I started to think about the things that could be changed to protect my dad. I couldn't even think about being in the same situation that Leah and Seth were in with losing their father and I didn't want to encounter it any time soon. I couldn't help, but notice that Bella hadn't shown up, though Jacob showed up later in the evening and seemed angry about something. Everyone seemed to avoid Jake while he was here. Sam, Jared and Embry were out with Leah and Seth trying to calm them down enough to allow them to phase back, but it had been hours and they were emotional.

Why did I have to be right? Why did all hell have to break loose?