Chapter Thirty Six

Rose

I could see Bella becoming more agitated,

"Bella stop worrying, Em will be back soon and we'll go look for them. See here he is"

She rushed to the door and pulled it open while Charlie spoke to me,

"The wolves have attacked twice Rose. Do you think they might have done it again?"

"Well, Carlisle and Esme may not be true fighters but they are fast and strong so the wolves would find it hard to take out all three of them easily and from what I've heard the only reason they got as far as they did before was because Jazz needed to hunt. I have to tell you Charlie, my brother is a true warrior, he's as fast as Edward and almost as strong as Emmett so my money would be on him in a fight, even with the wolves. You stay here with Bella and if they get back ring us."

Charlie nodded and left the room coming back seconds later with a hunting rifle and I nodded my approval.

"Rose I'm not strong or fast but I am a good shot so any wolf or vampire trying to get in here will wish it hadn't. You go, Bella will be fine with me."

Bella

I quizzed Emmett but he hadn't seen anything and neither Esme nor Carlisle were answering their cell phones. I'd tried Jazz a few times but it was switched off too.

"We often switch off our cell phones when were hunting so they don't go off and spook our prey. Don't worry Bells we'll find them."

I couldn't help worrying although I felt better knowing Em and Rose were out looking for them.

"I'm going to ring the Res"

Dads words startled me and I looked at him quizzically,

"Well if the wolves are involved maybe I can find out. If not, maybe they'll help us"

"Dad they tried to kill Jasper twice what makes you think they'll help us?"

"Doesn't hurt to try Bells."

I watched as he went through to the kitchen then followed although it was agony being away from the window as if looking out might bring him back to me.

Charlie

I rang Old Quil, straight to the top, worked best usually,

"Quil its Chief Swan"

"Oh, what do you want Chief Swan?"

"I want to know if the pack are out on patrol"

"Why?"

"Because three of my guests have gone missing in the forest and I've got a suspicious mind. I'm sending the deputies out and I'd hate for one of the wolves to get shot."

"I see. I take it these guests of yours are vampires?"

"Actually they are Cullens so I guess they should be covered by the treaty. The same treaty Jake and the others broke when they attacked Jasper."

"Yes, I was saddened to hear that the treaty had been broken. I was hoping that perhaps we could renegotiate with Carlisle if he comes back to Forks."

"He's already here. In fact he's one of those that are missing along with his wife Esme. So where are Jake and the others?"

"They are not responsible if Dr Cullen and the others that have gone missing but I will ask them to look out for your guests. In the meantime perhaps you could keep your deputies and their rifles away from the forest."

"Yeah perhaps I could, at least for now, but if I find out the pack is responsible you wont be able to move for hunters and rifles Quil, that's a promise."

When he put down the phone he looked at me and smiled,

"I believe him. I don't think the pack is responsible."

I nodded and went back to my post at the window praying nothing had happened to them, especially Jazz.

Jake

"So now the pack is doing the Cullens favours?"

Quil looked at me as I couldn't help my anger spilling out.

"Chief Swan rang, he thought we were responsible for the disappearances. Are we?"

"No Quil. The pack are on the Res, have been for hours and we didn't run into any leeches on our last patrol. Like you ordered we stayed well clear of Bella's place and the Cullen house."

"Have there been any signs of other vampires in the vicinity?"

"Only a couple and they go straight to Charlie's so they are obviously friends."

"Sam I want you to split the pack up and search the forest. If the Cullens are close and in trouble I want them found and taken back to Chief Swans house."

I was furious,

"It's not our job to babysit the leeches Sam"

"Its our job to obey any orders the elders choose to give us Jake. Remember that."

"Look, if they are missing then it had to be other leeches. Do we really want to get caught up between warring groups of them? Our job is to keep the tribe safe."

"Jake, if anything happens to the Cullens the tribe will automatically be in the frame, you have made sure of that."

"Me? How Sam?"

"You have tried twice to kill Jasper Hale, a clear violation of the treaty as he hadn't bitten or attempted to bite any human at the time. That puts us in the firing line if something does happen. Either Charlie and his deputies and any other hunters he can rustle up will saturate these woods looking for wolves, they'll probably put a bounty on them. Not to mention Bella's threat to expose us, she may not be believed by many but it doesn't take many to force us to stop phasing or be caught out. If we avoid all that there is still the Volturi. Caius especially hates shape shifters, wolves even more, and any excuse to wipe us out would be welcomed by him. We are fighting for our survival now so get out there and find them, alive and well.

Quil

I watched as they left, sure that although unhappy with their task they would never the less perform it to the best of their abilities. I rang Harry to fill him in and luckily Billy was with him. They came straight over and we sat together by the fire,

"So what happens if the pack don't find the missing leeches Quil?"

"Then its up to us to persuade Charlie that we weren't responsible for their loss."

"How do we do that? He knows the pack have already broken the treaty twice."

"I think you and Quil are missing something Harry. Our biggest threat isn't going to be Charlie but Bella. She's the one we have to persuade before she reveals us to the world and I don't think it was an idle threat."

"Do you think she'll believe us Billy?"

"She has no reason to, Sam and Jake both lied to her before. Besides she has dangerous allies now."

"You mean the other Cullens Billy?"

"No Harry, I mean Captain Whitlock and Garrett. Both of whom are seasoned and bloodied warriors. If they decide we are lying they will come for revenge and we will lose many of our young men, if not all of them."

"The pack can take them out if necessary Billy."

"You think so Harry? I'm not so sure and I don't want to find out the hard way so pray the pack finds the missing leeches and soon."