As much as Jacob wished it to be, it wasn't just a dream but a nightmare. There was the horror of Jo's experience the night before, the truth behind her father's death and the danger that was now about to confront the pack and ultimately the future of the tribe.
It was all real and it had the potential to change the small Quileute tribe as they knew it. Jacob wished that it had all been a dream, but he doubted that his worst nightmares could have portrayed the fear that came with the possibility of his imprint being in danger.
As Jacob opened his eyes the next morning, he found Jo tucked into his side just as she had fallen asleep the night before. They had gone to bed early and spent most of the evening just talking softly among other things that brought a smile to his face as he recalled them. It had been peaceful and relaxing. It nearly made Jacob forget the impending danger that the tribe was going to be facing in less than 24 hours. If he could sleep like that every night, he would.
He turned onto his side, relishing in his final moments with Jo before he'd have to be up for the day to begin training with the pack and the Cullen's. Jacob brushed the hair from her face as she moved in closer to him. A small smile graced her face for a brief moment and he couldn't help but lean down and kiss her forehead.
The scent of the werewolves and vampires had been long washed away and knowing that Jo would be venturing into the Cullen's home later that afternoon, Jacob had ensured that his scent would be on her. If anything, he hoped it would encourage them furthermore to keep their distance. He recalled Jo's giggles as he nuzzled her neck the night before, before she moaned his name softly while he kissed the spot behind her ear that he knew she enjoyed. It had been enough to wake the silent wolf within him. It never did fall back asleep. Even while Jacob slept, he could sense the wolf begging for more.
If only they had more time.
Jacob whispered a soft Quileute song as he brushed his hand through her dark hair. The words came to mind as he spoke them. It had been a lullaby that his Mother had sung to him countless times. He had even heard his father humming the tune on occasion as the years went by.
"I know that song," Jo said softly, her eyes still closed. "I love hearing you sing."
Jacob stopped and smirked before kissing her forehead once again.
"I woke you," he concluded. "I'm sorry."
Jo's eyes opened and she met Jacob's gaze as he looked down at her laying beside him.
"I've been dozing for a while, just enjoying your warmth while I can," she said, snuggling further into his side. He felt her bare feet and then her legs entwine between his own.
Jacob smiled before he put an exaggerated pout on his face.
"Is that all I'm good for?"
Jo smiled, lifting her head up to quickly kiss his lips.
"You are good for many things."
"Such as?" His eyes brows wagging suggestively.
She knew what he was implying and instead decided to tease him a bit.
"Such as, changing flat tires, howling at the moon, chasing mythical creatures through the forests of La Push..." she replied, counting them off on her fingers. "Oh, and you're a great hand warmer."
Jacob smirked menacingly with a gleam in his eye as she spoke.
"I'll give you hand warmer," he teased, as he flipped himself over top of her, running his hands up her sides causing her to start laughing once again.
She quickly brought her hand to her mouth to muffle the sound but Jacob grabbed both her wrists and held them to her side as he pinned her down. Jo grinned darkly, hearing Jacob's inner wolf snarl happily with her act of submission. She could nearly see it in his eyes; the yellow specks that seemed to become more prominent when he let himself become more one with the wolf. Somehow, she knew this was what the wolf was needing considering the day ahead. It didn't mean that she wasn't willing. If this was the last few moments alone, they would be using it wisely.
Jacob leaned down, quickly capturing Jo's lips before moving down her neck. Releasing her hands, he pulled at the collar of her shirt, ripping it in a long, uneven tear until it reached the bottom hem.
"Jake!" Jo gasped softly, surprised but equally turned on.
He could hear it in her voice and he growled triumphantly before continuing his exploration of her neck until he came down to the marked scar that he had left over her breast.
After speaking with Sam and Old Quil regarding the significance of the bite last night, it had made him feel more at ease. The wolf had marked Jo as his own, forever bonding them together in a magic so deep that nothing and no one would be able to break it. He would forever be a part of her physically as she was forever imprinted on him. They belonged to each other.
He gently kissed it and heard Jo's gasp.
Quickly, he looked up at her, yet he could tell that it wasn't pain that she was feeling, but complete and utter ecstasy. She smiled at him before he did it again, this time grazing his teeth over it before he ran his hands up her sides, pausing slightly as his fingers trailed over her breasts.
At first, he thought that he had been imagining it. But at the same time, he knew that he wasn't.
Jo's breasts had gotten larger. Of course, he wasn't complaining. He would never mention it, but he had noticed that overall she had gained some weight. It was subtle change that he was certain that no one else would notice. Afterall, he knew her body quite well and the minute changes didn't go unnoticed by him. Yet, Jo looked healthy and in his eyes, she was and would always be perfect.
He quickly dismissed it as his hands continued up her arms, before they entwined between Jo's fingers.
Jacob looked into her eyes once more before hungrily and desperately brought his mouth to hers. His hands slid back down her sides, causing goosebumps to rise over her skin as her right leg wrapped overtop of his own, holding him close to her.
Enjoying the sensation, he broke the kiss and tipped her head to the side. Jacob tugged at her ear with his teeth as he snarled through his nose.
Jo opened her eyes for a brief second and her eyes saw the digital clock staring back at her.
07:47am
"Jake," she said, breathlessly. He was making it difficult for her to even form words, but somehow she managed. "Sam...outside...meet...soon."
"Sam can wait," Jacob whispered roughly into her ear, as he enjoyed the soft sounds he was causing her to make. "I'm busy."
Agreeing with his assessment, Jo wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his face to hers before she met his lips.
A minute later and there was a knock at the door. Jacob cursed softly as he broke the kiss and panted before glaring at the door, daring it to open.
"Jake, we're meeting the Cullen's in 10 minutes," Sam's voice called from the otherside of the door.
Jake realized then that his father must have let Sam in. He knew that Billy had been awake for close to an hour, yet he hadn't come to the door to wake him. Billy was fully aware that this would be the last alone time that his son would have with Jo and his father respected that.
Sam also was aware of it, as his tone wasn't demanding. He knew what could happen over the next 24 hours, yet the pack had work to get done before the battle.
Jacob looked down at Jo beneath him who nodded solemnly to him as she ran her hands through his short hair. With a sigh, he knew that she was right.
"Give me a minute," he reluctantly growled out before sitting up on the edge of the bed.
He could hear the footfalls walking away from the door before he looked over at Jo who sat up beside him. Her tattered shirt still rested on her shoulders. She pulled the rest of it off and tossed it on the floor. Jo brushed her hair back and leaned forward, kissing the side of Jacob's neck.
"This is important," Jo reminded him before he turned to her.
"You are important."
She leaned down and rested her forehead against his shoulder. Her finger traced the outer edge of the tribal tattoo on his shoulder.
"Then make that your reason for doing this," Jo told him. "I'll be waiting for you when it's all over. You just better damn well come back in one piece or I'll be super pissed about all of this."
Jacob nodded softly at her attempt at humour, recognizing the fact that she wasn't even smiling as she spoke. He reached down and took Jo's hand in his own.
"If I do..."
"When you do," Jo corrected with a smile, to which Jacob smiled and began again.
"When I do, you have to promise me something."
Curiously, Jo agreed.
"Marry me."
This wasn't what Jo had in mind. Her smile faded.
"Jake..."
"Seriously, consider it for me," Jacob implored, hearing her unspoken reservation. "I don't want an answer right now, but all I'm asking is that you'll have an answer for me when all this mess is over with. I'm planning to spend the rest of my life with you, Jo but I'm willing to wait for you until you're ready to take that step; be it in a year or 5 years from now. I'll be waiting."
After a moment, Jo nodded.
"I'll think about it," she told him softly as he smiled.
When another knock came to the door, Jacob stood up as Jo instinctively grabbed the blanket at her waist and pulled it up to her neck.
"I'm coming," he stated gruffly before grabbing his shorts from the floor and pulled them up over his boxers. He picked up one of his shirts and tossed it to Jo before leaning in towards her.
"Please, don't think too long."
Before she had a chance to say a word, Jacob quickly gave her a peck on her lips before opening the door and closing it behind him.
The pack stood just inside the tree line, watching with great concern and interest as Jacob and Sam helped Old Quil and Billy out of their pickup's while Jo and Embry grabbed the bags from the back. From where the others stood, they could see Dr. Cullen make his way out of his large, stately house with his wife to greet them. The plans was for the Cullen's to look after and cover the scent of the elders and Jo until nightfall and then join the pack in the battle, hoping to surprise the werewolves with their added numbers.
It was an odd arrangement that left the pack with mixed feelings. Working alongside the Cullen's was one thing; leaving their elders and an imprint in their care was another. To their relief, the Cullen's agreed to allow one of the pack members to stay with them. As much as Jacob wanted to stay and take on that role, he knew that his duty as a future Alpha was to the entire tribe and not just the ones he cared for most of all. Sam allowed Jacob to choose someone to look after the elders and his imprint. When Jacob called for Embry, his friend didn't hesitate. Although Embry wanted nothing more than to be with his brothers during the battle, he knew the honour that it was to protect such valuable members of the tribe. The only part that he wasn't looking forward to was the smell. His pack brothers sympathized with him.
"You have no idea how glad I'm not Embry right now. The only way I'd step one foot inside that fucking house is if you paid me," Paul said aloud to his brothers around him, as they all watched from afar.
"Or if Sam 'Alpha ordered' you," Jared added, to which Paul nodded with a roll of his eyes.
"But, what if Rachel was the one going in there?"
"Okay, that's a bit different," Paul admitted, with a smile.
"I've been in there before," Quil said softly, watching as Sam assisted his grandfather up the stone steps and greeted Dr. Cullen. "Embry and I were Jacob's plus 2 to Bella's grad party last year. It was creepy and stunk to high heaven. All those kids had no idea whose company they were keeping."
He shuddered recalling the event.
"I have no idea how Jake is keeping it together; willingly sending not only his father into that place but also his imprint," Paul said. "Holy shit. I'd be phasing just thinking about it."
"Just be glad you don't get to hang around and be the guard dog like poor Embry there," Jared said, noting how Embry turned his head slightly upon hearing his name. Jared noticed that he had overheard him. "I told him that I'd be sure to rip apart a werewolf or two for him."
They watched as Embry smiled knowingly before walking up to Sam.
"Be safe," they heard Embry tell him before clasping his Alpha's forearm in a friendly handshake. Sam nodded and clapped Embry on the shoulder before he gestured to the others by the tree line to come in. As they did, Sam turned back to Embry.
"You aren't to leave their side; Jo's especially," Sam told him, gesturing with a glance towards where the elders were walking into the house. He noted Jo standing just outside the main door with Jacob at her side and saw as they glanced out to where the pack were beginning to assemble on the driveway.
"Let us know if something goes down that you need backup for," Sam assured him. "But only if it's absolutely necessary. I have a feeling that we're going to need all the help we can get out there."
Embry nodded before heading towards the stone steps up to the front porch.
Sam watched and caught Jacob's eye at by the doorway and nodded to him.
Jacob returned the gesture before turning to Jo and sighed.
"I have to go," he told her, taking her hands within his own. "They're waiting for me before they get started on perimeter sweeps."
Jo nodded, not trusting her own voice. She couldn't even look up at him. Jo knew the moment she'd look into his dark eyes, she'd lose it and she wasn't about to cause Jacob concern. He needed to be on his A-game and not have to be worrying about her. Instead, she stared at his bare chest in front of her.
"Jo, look at me," he said.
She didn't. She couldn't.
"Jake, I'll be fine," Jo assured him, softly. "You need to do what you were born to do."
"I was also born for you," Jacob reminded her, leaning in to rest his head against her forehead. "Without you, I wouldn't be able to fully do what I'm meant to do. I need to know that you'll be all right and at the moment, you're not very convincing."
With that, Jo sighed and looked up at Jacob. What she feared would happen, happened.
Tears came to her eyes and she swore, before looking down to wipe them away. Jacob smiled weakly before pulling her towards him, enveloping his arms around her.
"You can't hide your feelings from me," he said softly, as he inhaled her sweet scent of her hair. "We're connected in more ways than one."
Jo pressed her cheek against his chest, feeling not only the intense heat radiating off of him but his strong heart beating within him.
"You need to come back to me," she told him. Jo could hear the deep rumblings of a sigh echo against her ear. "Just as you said that you couldn't live without me; it's the same for me. I need you as much as you need me."
Jacob squeezed her tightly before looking down at her face. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe and I'll do my best to come back."
"Jake!" Sam's voice suddenly called out, this time more insistent.
Jacob involuntarily clenched his jaw, knowing that his time to say goodbye was over, yet he also knew that Sam could have called him back much sooner.
"I really have to go now," Jacob said, as Jo nodded.
Without missing a beat, she jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I love you, Jacob," she said softly while Jake held her tightly to him.
"I love you too."
"I'd come with you if I could...if it was possible..."
She heard him chuckle lightly. "I know you would."
Jacob placed her back on the ground and looked down at her once more. He reached forward and brushed her hair from her face before gently kissing her lips. When he broke the kiss, he looked past her to see Edward and Bella standing by the entrance.
"She'll be fine, Jacob," Edward told him. "I can assure you of that."
A deep rumbling growl came from inside Jacob as he took a step forward towards Edward.
"If I find out that you laid one hand on her, I'll kill you," he snarled.
"Jake!" Bella called out harshly before her expression softened. "Jo's safe here."
He sighed deeply, glaring at Edward before looking at Bella.
"She'd better be," Jacob mumbled before looking to see Embry walking past Edward to where he and Jo stood.
He said nothing but merely nodded, silently understanding each other.
With one final glance, Jacob made his way down the steps to join the rest of the pack. He looked back before they all began to run together back into the woods. Feeling Embry's hand on her shoulder, she looked up at him and smiled weakly. Without saying a word, Jo walked up the final few steps into the Cullen's house. She missed the glare that Embry shot Edward as they passed by them.
As night began to fall, Jo couldn't help but feel a deeper apprehension with each passing minute. She wasn't certain if it was her own concerns or Jacob's. Either way, it was becoming unnerving to not know what was going on.
The werewolves had no clue where the boundaries were and would most likely not abide by them even if they did know. Sam had the pack spread out across miles of land and they were constantly moving. Embry was even feeling the anxiety as his wolf was eager to know about his brothers. But at the same time, he was happy to be in the company of Jo, Billy and Old Quil. He knew where his responsibilty was.
While Billy and Old Quil sat silently in the large living room and made forced small talk with Dr. Cullen and Esme, Jo paced along the window, watching for any sign of movement. She knew that if she could simply get a glimpse of the pack, then she'd know they were all right. Embry was almost constantly at her side. He looked out the window with his arms crossed, staring deeply into the forest.
"Do you see them?
With a deep sigh, he shook his head.
Jo looked up at the sky through the canopy, searching for a sign of the full moon. Although she couldn't see it, the light of the moon brightened the dark woods. There was only a few more hours until the moon would be at its peak.
"I wouldn't be so worried about them," a feminine voice called from behind them. "Those dogs can take care of themselves, if you ask me."
Jo turned to see the beautiful blond whom she recalled was named Rosalie walked through the room. She was in a full body work suit that had been stained by oil or grease. She tossed a pair of worn and dirty gloves onto the coffee table in front of where Emmett and Jasper were currently watching reading.
"They practically crushed the hood and roof of Carlisle's car that it's going to take me weeks to repair it," she told her bitterly. "If you hadn't demanded that my family come onto your land like the high and mighty princess of La Push that you are, I wouldn't have to deal with it."
Embry's deep growl echoed throughout the room before he quickly met Billy's authoritative eyes, telling him to relax.
Esme on the other hand, felt that Rosalie needed a verbal warning.
"Rosalie," Esme stated, somewhat embarassed at her adopted daughter's words. "These are our guests."
"I don't care. This is serious," she argued, before looking to Carlisle. "We're helping these people now, and for what? Because of some mistake this mutt's imprint made in getting mixed in with the wrong crowd? It hardly seems fair."
"They've helped us in the past and we're going to help them," Carlisle stated, firmly. "We need to learn to live in harmony with the tribe. They've never given us any trouble before and helping them is the least we could do for their graciousness."
"I, for one am not risking my life for a human."
"I'm not asking you to," Jo suddenly snapped. "I never asked for any of this. Do you actually think that I enjoy being here in this house?" She paused for a moment and looked to Carlisle. "But at the same time, I'm relieved to know that we are safe here and thankful that you have allowed us to stay."
Carlisle smiled weakly and nodded. He glanced over at Rosalie who huffed before leaving the room.
With a sigh, Esme smiled apologetically at the elders. "Can I get either of you some tea or coffee?"
Billy nodded, and smiled politely. "Yes, coffee would be wonderful. Thank you."
Esme looked to Bella, silently asking her to help her out in the kitchen. When her and Esme returned a few minutes later, the older woman looked over to where Jo had returned to her position by the window. Esme's eyes met Embry's as he stood near Jo.
"Can I get you something to drink? Coffee?"
Embry shook his head, fighting between his upbringing of being polite and the internal wolf's disgust at what the woman really was - his natural enemy.
"Naw, I'm good. Thank you."
When he saw Esme glance towards Jo, Embry leaned towards his friend and touched her shoulder.
"Jo, would you like a coffee or tea?"
She shook her head without responding and kept on staring out into the darkness of the woods, just as Alice walked through the room.
The short woman sighed.
"Everything will be fine. I know it," she said aloud before turning to Jo, who stood with her back towards her. "Besides, all this added stress isn't good for your baby."
Silence flooded the room as her words washed over the occupants. It hit Jo like a wall.
Baby?
Jo's eyes went from staring out into the woods to looking at her shell-shocked expression in the reflection of the glass. She could feel her heart pumping loudly in her ears as Alice's statement played over and over in her head. It was mean and cold hearted, but coming from leeches who weren't happy to have them in their house, what could she expect?
But still, for a moment, Jo felt the joy of the possibility as her hand slowly and instinctively fell onto her flat stomach, just as she was reminded by words from years ago - impossible.
Behind her, Alice walked up to Edward who had pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to avoid hearing the loud thoughts that suddenly errupted from their house guests; thoughts of disgust, rage, shock and disbelief. Alice gently touched Edward's elbow, causing him to turn towards her.
'She didn't know, did she,' Alice thought, as Edward shook his head.
"That. Is a cruel joke," Jo spat angrily, before turning around, her hand dropping from her stomach. "I know that you bloodsuckers are not happy to have us here, but that is a new low."
Embry walked closer to Jo, instinctively feeling protective and equally offended knowing how Jacob felt when he found out himself that Jo was unable to have children. To have someone make a mockery of his pack brother's imprint was the equivalent of the blood sucker mocking the pack itself.
"I assure you. Jo, you are pregnant," Edward said, with a smile on his face while Bella walked up to him, equally happy and grabbed his hand.
Jo scoffed, causing Edward's smile to fade upon him hearing her thoughts before she voiced them.
"You think that this is funny? Making fun of someone who isn't able to have children? I know that you don't like Jacob or anyone in the pack but this is just disgusting and rude and..."
She didn't know how much their comments had affected her until she realized that she was crying. Having children was something she never thought she'd want, until she met Jacob. To have someone blatantly rub the fact that she was unable to give him that in her face, hurt.
In her efforts to stop the flow of tears, Jo rubbed her hands over her eyes before she continued.
"You're a bunch of evil, cold-hearted, and insensitive leeches!" Jo shouted, just as Embry growled at them from where he stood beside her.
Billy didn't feel the need to correct Jo's outburst nor did he bother to even discourage Embry loud rumbling of anger. He knew the boy had enough control to not phase right beside Jo and although Billy didn't express it in his features, he was just as upset and shocked that the Cullen's would stoop as low as that to make fun of the fact that Jo wasn't able to have children. After all, those would be his potential grandchildren and he could sympathize with Jo.
"I can understand how you are unable to believe it, but it's the truth," Edward said, not phased at all by her words as he held tight to Bella's hand.
Carlisle watched the exchange curiously before he walked over to where Edward, Bella and Alice stood as his son spoke.
"Edward, are you sure? It is obvious that it is quite a statement considering what Jo is saying about her being unable to have children."
Edward smiled once again
"I heard the heartbeat earlier."
He purposely avoided mentioning how he had seen Hank's vision in the evil werewolves mind and the reason behind why he suddenly let Jo go. The woman was under enough stress as it was.
"And I had a vision and I thought that Jo was already aware of it," Alice explained, before turning to Jo.
"I apologize for making you upset. I thought that you knew." She smiled. "But this is good news, considering what you thought."
Jo's heart began to beat wildly in her chest as her eyes darted from the Cullen's looking happily at her to Billy's shocked expression.
"What was your vision?" Billy suddenly asked, his voice thick with emotion with the possibility that what the vampire family was saying was true.
"I'm unable to see any of the shape shifters in my visions, but I have seen members of the tribe," Alice explained. "I saw Jo in the woods, extremely pregnant with Emmett and Esme beside her. And then later, Carlisle is passing a baby wrapped in a green towel to you."
"But it's all subjective," Edward added, as his own mind recalled the vision that Hank had and how it seemed similar to Alice's yet, with a different and grim conclusion. "The people and places can change according to decisions that are made. But certain events, such as the conception of a child, cannot be altered once it happens."
Jo felt Edward's eyes go back to her, as she took deep breaths trying to figure it all out in her head. Her period was unpredictable; it always has been. Even if she had somehow become lucky enough to become pregnant at the right time, she'd been told that her uterus was...in what doctors explained to her as, 'incapable of sustaining life'. To now somehow be told that everything that she ever told was false, was hard to believe.
"But, it's impossible," she said softly, her hand once again going to her stomach. "I...I can't have children."
"And yet, there are vampires, werewolves and shape shifters in the world," Bella stated gently, with a smile, as Jo looked down at her stomach, no outward evidence of anything even being there.
"It is possible, Jo," he told her as Carlisle walked towards her.
Embry stepped slightly in front of Jo.
"That's close enough," Embry warned, as he nearly growled out the words.
Carlisle looked at him. "I need to be closer if I'm going to able to verify what Edward and Alice are saying."
Embry felt a hand rest on his back and he glanced at Jo behind him. He stepped back slightly as Jo moved forward, yet Embry watched keenly.
"How?" She asked Dr. Cullen.
"By listening carefully for it, as Edward had done. Four heartbeats in this room are strong and loud. I'm listening for one that may be otherwise missed if one was not looking for it."
Jo swallowed and then nodded as Carlisle took a step closer to her. He turned his head slightly and closed his eyes to concentrate. It had been so long that he'd attune his ear to hear things that were so soft and barely audible. He had come to rely on stethescope's and machines to do this for so many years. Yet, he knew that if it was possible to hear the fluttering of a fly's wing, he could hear the soft beating of a heartbeat.
Carlisle ignored the two loudest ones directly in front of him, searching for a single beat that was softer and much faster. It took a few seconds, but he smiled when he heard the faint sound.
Suddenly, his eyes opened and he raised his wrist to look at his watch to count before smiling at Jo.
"I hear it. A nice 143 beats per minute," he stated happily.
"I could hear it too," Bella suddenly said, as Esme nodded with a smile.
Once again, Jo's hand went to her stomach as her eyes met Embry's before they fell on Billy who looked on with as much shock as Jo was experiencing.
"It's true?"
A smile was coming to her face for the first time since she had walked through the doors.
"Seems to be" Carlisle told her.
Jo looked to Embry beside her whose own expression had softened.
"It would certainly explain the packs over protectiveness towards Jo recently," Old Quil said aloud, looking to Billy. "Unconsciously, the wolves were aware of it even though the men did not. Being the child of the alpha, this child is important to the pack."
Billy nodded, running his hand over his face as he looked towards Jo.
"Not just to the pack," Billy said softly. "But to a grandfather as well."
"This also shed's new light on the validity of the legend," Old Quil added solemnly, as Billy looked down at his hands.
Edward walked towards them. "I overheard the legend from Jacob."
His voice made the elders looked up at him. "My family will do our best to prevent that from coming to pass."
"Legend? What legend?" Embry asked, suddenly concerned.
Billy sighed, before looking up.
"There is a legend about a storm that came to the tribe. In the months preceding the storm, many wives of the Spirit Warriors found themselves to be with child. When the storm came the Spirit Warriors of the tribe all perished leaving their unborn children to eventually take their place. It was the Great Spirit's way of preserving not only the magic within the tribe, but also the future of the pack."
"And you think that this is happening again," Jo concluded, a sick feeling settling in her stomach when she realized what it meant. "Considering that Emily is pregnant and now...so am I."
"It's a possibility."
She gasped for a second and held her breath before looking to Carlisle. "I'm sorry, but do you have a bathroom?"
Esme seemed to realize what was happening and gestured behind her. "Down the hall and to the right."
Quickly, Jo rushed out of the room, and slammed the door behind her, just as Embry growled in anger.
"I should be out there."
"Embry, the pack is strong with numbers far beyond what anyone would have ever expected within the tribe," Billy assured him, as much as he was telling himself the same thing.
"And they won't be alone," Carlisle added, before looking to Jasper, Emmett and Alice. He nodded to them before they walked out of the room. "Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie will be joining them shortly. The rest of us will stay here for now."
A howl broke through the night. They all quickly turned upon hearing it. Embry looked out the window, seeing the moon rising higher into the sky as he clenched his fists beside him.
"It's starting."
A/N - Thank you for all the reviews, suggestions, comments and questions. You guys can really make me think sometimes and I appreciate that. Welcome to all my new favouriters and followers. A huge shout out to the follower who pushed it over 200 - Leticia Black
Here's a bit of awesome news: My house is sold! It also explains the delay in publishing this chapter - lots of negotiations, inspections and time spent away from writing. Now, I have about a month to find a new place. My goal is to finish this story before the closing date at the end of June. We shall see how well I do with that goal...I'm not going to rush it if it looks like I won't make it in time. I'd rather do a great job telling this story than to beat a deadline...you guys deserve it for all the great support that you've given me.
