Beta: MissEllen- Thank You!
Previously:
"The order is broken and now you have to answer for what you've done." Jared challenged. "You all do."
Without a word, Sam turned on his heel and stalked out of the yard.
"Let's go inside and figure out what to do," Linda suggested once Sam was out of sight. I was thankful for her take-charge attitude as I didn't know what the hell to do.
Kleenex Warning
CH.48 Implosion
Jared's Pov
Embry glared in the direction Sam had fled. His eyes glowed and his body trembled. Without a word, he ran across the road, phasing just inside the tree line. Listening to his heavy paws pound the earth, I knew he was headed in the direction of Forks and Bella.
Quil and I turned and headed inside. The parents were already seated around the table and discussing the council meeting. Quil and I found seats and crammed our bodies in between the others around the crowded table.
I was only half listening. My mind kept replaying every moment from the beginning; from the very first time Embry phased to the day he was ordered to stay away from Bella. No matter how many times I replayed the memories in my mind, I still didn't understand.
Charlie's cell phone rang and quieted the room and halted my runaway thoughts. Glancing at his phone, "Dr. Gerandy," he informed us.
Charlie masked his feelings well, but he couldn't hide the hitch in his breathing or the extra beat in his heart from my supernatural hearing. I pretended I hadn't heard the conversation as Charlie ended the call.
"Bella is awake," Chief Swan informed everyone. "She, um... she doesn't want to see anyone."
No one said anything. What was there to say?
"They're going to release her tomorrow," Charlie ran his hands through his hair and sighed. The Chief looked like he had aged twenty years in the last twenty four hours.
Quil stood, "We need to come up with a plan. Charlie like we told you last night, Bella really does need to stay on the reservation."
Before anyone could discuss what Quil had just brought up, Paul walked through the door looking like hell.
"Embry is patrolling around the hospital," Paul told the room before anyone could ask.
"Bella is being released in the morning, we need to figure out where she's going to stay," Quil brought Paul up to date.
"Chief, you should stay on the reservation too. The leech has been prowling the border between here and Forks. If she puts your scent together with Bella's, she'll go after you to get to her. We're lucky that hasn't happened yet." Paul interjected.
He was right.
"You are both welcome to stay at our house," Linda immediately offered as did Sue, who promised Harry would not be there. I wondered how that shit storm was going to play out.
"I don't know if Bella will want to stay here," Kay whispered, "But you are both welcome."
"My house is shitty, but I've got room," Paul offered shyly.
After some back and forth, it was decided that Bella would stay at Linda's while Chief Swan would stay at Paul's. Bella would take Quil's room and he would either crash on the couch or stay here with Kay and Embry. It was as good as a plan as we could hope for.
"Do you think Bella would want to have some of her own things?" Kay asked.
Nodding, Charlie agreed. "Yeah, she'd probably feel better if she had some of her own stuff."
"Linda and I can go to your house and pack her a bag," Kay offered. I thought maybe she just needed to feel like she was doing something, anything.
Now that we knew who the redhead was after, we didn't want to take any chances, everyone needed to be protected. With that in mind, we decided that Quil would go with Kay and Linda to Forks and Paul and I would follow Charlie to the hospital in wolf form. Paul and I would also be able to check on Embry while we were there. We had just enough time to get everything done before we would need to return to La Push for the meeting with the Elders.
Kay's Pov
The drive to Forks felt like an eternity. I stared out of the window watching the forest pass by. I knew our sons were somewhere inside the thick trees. Linda noticing my nerves patted my hand, "Kay, we're going to get through this. I will help you and Embry. You know Quil will too. We all will," she promised.
I squeezed her hand to let her know that I had heard her. Minutes later, we were pulling up to Charlie's house. I remembered the first time I'd ever been to the Swan's. I had brought Bella here to pack a bag so she could stay with me while her dad was in Seattle and Embry was on his spirit walk.
Quil appeared at the edge of the property and walked toward us. His eyes darted in all directions. It was eerie to see. Once he was standing in front of us he offered a small smile. "I'm going to run the perimeter and check for scents. When you're finished just yell and I'll meet you at the car." With that he ran back toward the woods and disappeared.
I pulled the key Charlie had given me from my pocket and opened the door. "Bella's room is upstairs," I told Linda, walking toward the staircase.
Opening Bella's bedroom door, I walked through and stood in the center of her room. It was just as spotless as it was the first time I'd seen it.
"We should probably try to get loose fitting things," Linda carefully suggested. She was right. Bella had just given birth. With that thought, I braced myself against Bella's dresser to keep from falling over.
Moving to stand in front of me, Linda lay her hands on top of my shoulders and waited silently until I lifted my head and met her eyes. "We will get through this. Bella, Embry, you... we will get through this," her words were as determined as they were sincere.
Nodding, I turned and pulled Bella's top drawer open. I grabbed a stack of panties and a few bras and what looked like a night shirt. Linda took the stack from me and set them on the bed.
I opened each drawer, pulling out the most comfortable items. Yoga pants, thermal shirts and anything else I could think of. "Should I pack jeans?" I wondered aloud.
"Maybe a couple of pairs and a sweater or two," Linda offered.
I closed the drawers after double checking to make sure I hadn't overlooked anything Bella might need. Crossing the room to the closet, I turned the handle and opened the door. I was not prepared for what was inside. I couldn't hold back the sob that escaped.
"Kay?" Linda worriedly came to stand beside me. I could hear her own breath hitch as she took in the site.
Bella's closet was much larger than I would have expected. There was a door at the very end of the closet and a small window, high on the wall. Looking closely, it appeared it may have been a very small third bedroom at one point.
The walls were painted baby blue, the scent of fresh paint lingered. There were pictures of the ocean and sailboats in pastels on the walls. The window was covered in a linen curtain with the same sailboats as the pictures on the edge of the material.
There was a set of white shelves along the right wall. Baby books lined the top shelf. I could see several books of classic nursery rhymes housed in between two sailboat bookends. The second shelf held perfectly folded baby blankets. There were stacks of sleepers and onesies and a basket of baby socks.
But it was the white bassinet resting on the left side of the tiny nursery that had me stumbling and gasping for air. It was empty and it would stay empty.
I took the two steps needed to reach the tiny bassinet. Peering inside, I thought I might pass out. Hanging from the canopy was a dream catcher. It wasn't just any random dream catcher. It was woven with the Makah braid.
I couldn't hold back any longer. I could feel the tears slide down my face as I smoothed my hands over the bed that my grandson was supposed to sleep in. Grandson... I was supposed to have a grandson.
Linda wrapped her arm around my waist and helped me to Bella's bed. I sat down and finally allowed myself to cry. Linda remained silent as I mourned.
I don't know how long we'd been sitting when I felt the bed rise with Linda as she stood before kneeling in front of me. She took both my hands in hers, letting me know she was here for me.
Wiping my eyes with the sleeve of my shirt, I stood up and looked around. We needed to find a bag to put Bella's things into. I stooped down and looked under the bed. There were several rollaway storage containers. Pulling the first one out, I found a couple pair of jeans and decided to pack those as well. One by one, I opened the containers. I found a duffel bag in the last storage bin.
Linda grabbed the stacks of clothes from the bed and helped me pack them into the bag. There was nothing left to do but leave. I paused in the doorway and turned to make one last sweep of Bella's bedroom, not wanting to leave anything she might need behind. Spotting Bella's pillow, I thought maybe she'd like to have it. I handed the bag to Linda and moved toward Bella's bed. Lifting the pillow, I gasped, feeling my eyes rewet with tears. Underneath Bella's pillow was Embry's black sweatshirt.
"Kay, what is it?" Linda asked, swiftly moving to stand at my side.
"Embry's sweatshirt," I sniffled.
I put the pillow back, not wanting Bella to know I had seen it. I was just about to turn to leave when the drawer on her nightstand caught my attention. It was open just enough that I could see what was inside. Unable to stop myself I opened the drawer and lifted the photo. It was an ultrasound picture.
I could see arms and legs and the outline of a face. The heart was pointed out with an arrow. I knew the second Linda realized what I was holding. Wrapping her arm around me once again, Linda silently gave me her support as I stared at my son's son.
As much as I wanted to keep it, I knew it wasn't mine. I opened the drawer to put it back and once again found myself struggling for air. I lifted the a stack of photos and flipped through them. Each one more hauntingly beautiful then the next. But it was the last photo that stole my breath. Bella's shirt was lifted and her hands cradled her stomach. She had the smallest, sweetest smile on her face as she looked to the photographer. I gently put the pictures back in the drawer and closed it.
Linda never took her arm from me as we walked across the room. I shut the door behind me and slowly descended the stairs. Linda took the duffel bag to the car, while I locked door.
Quil met us at the car. Looking between me and his mom, I could see the worry in his eyes as he no doubt saw the tears in ours. If he had questions, he didn't ask them. I appreciated his silence. I wasn't sure if I could speak at the moment .
The drive back to the reservation was quiet. Linda was as perceptive as always and didn't try to fill the space with conversation. She knew that I didn't have it in me.
Jared's Pov
Paul and I phased and checked in with Embry. The redhead's scent had faded and so far she hadn't returned. We knew she'd be back, she always came back. At least now we knew who she was after. Being inside Embry's mind was painful. I was glad to phase human and get a break.
Em refused to leave the hospital so it was easy to decide who would patrol and who would attend the council meeting. As much as I thought Em deserved to rip into them, he was where he needed to be.
Bella had refused to see Charlie and though he tried to hide it, we could see he was torn up about it. Bella's mom, Renee, threw a fit and demanded that she be allowed to see her daughter. Charlie explained that Bella didn't want to see anyone, but Renee refused to listen to him. It took the doctor threatening to have Charlie arrest her for trespassing before she would leave.
I felt bad for her, but if Bella didn't want to see anyone then I didn't think it should be forced.
Charlie walked out of the hospital looking tired and ready to fall over. "Ready?"
"Can we ride with you?" I asked. Embry didn't need us inside his head right now and honestly, I wasn't sure If I could share his mind and still be able to deal with the council. Paul and I climbed into the cruiser, folding our large bodies into the back seat.
"Do you need to stop and get anything from your house?" I asked once we got closer to the Swan's place.
"Yeah, I should probably pack some stuff," he mumbled. Linda's car wasn't in the drive when we pulled in. I guessed she and Kay had already come and gone. "You boys can come in if you want," Charlie offered as he turned the engine off and opened the car door.
Paul and I got out of the car, mostly to stretch our legs. We were both cramped inside the small car. I'd never been to the Swan's. It was a nice place. Walking inside I thought the Chief's house wasn't all that different from the houses on the reservation. It was bigger, but it wasn't fancy like some of the homes in Forks were.
Charlie didn't waste time. He climbed the stairs and was back down just a few minutes later with a Forks P.D. duffel bag over his shoulder. Charlie tossed the bag into the trunk, and checked the mail before getting back into the cruiser ."They'll probably be at Quil's." I broke the silence as we crossed into La Push.
Walking into Quil's house, we could see Kay and Linda at the table. Kay had been crying. Her eyes were red and puffy. I looked to Quil but he only shrugged. "I don't know," he said too low for anyone other than Paul and me to hear.
We'd been at Linda's for almost two hours. She and Kay had put Bella's things in Quil's room and washed and dried all the bedding. They had been shaken when we got here and had kept themselves busy while waiting to leave for the meeting.
I knew we were all on edge.
"How do the council meetings work?" Charlie asked.
"We have pack meetings we're required to attend. It's rare that the council members go. This is the first one since the order was given,..."
"So we're going in blind," Chief Swan stated. His entire demeanor had changed and he was clearly in cop mode right now.
"Pretty much," Paul confirmed.
"They'll probably try to tell you the same bullshit that they told us. Pack unity and all that." I suggested, knowing the council would stick to the same story they'd fed us.
The knock on the door interrupted any further conversation. "It's Sue," Quil piped up, walking to the door to let her in.
Sue walked in and sat down at the table. Looking to each one of us, "I'm going to tell the council that I was the one that told Charlie, Linda and Kay about the pack." She announced.
"Sue we appreciate that, but as soon as we phase, Sam will read what happened in our memories. Shared mind," I reminded her.
"I know, I thought about that. If you can remember me telling you before you showing Charlie and then Kay and Linda your wolf form, it should work." Sue thoughtfully suggested.
It was a long shot, but it could work. If we could change the timeline in our thoughts when we were phased, it might just work.
Quil shrugged, "It's worth a shot."
"Ok," I agreed. "We'll have to be careful when we're phased with anyone other than each other, but it could work."
With that settled, it was time to confront the council.
Charlie's Pov
Linda, Kay and Sue decided to drive to the council hall while I walked with the boys. We'd been walking for a few minutes, "How is Embry?" I finally asked.
Quil stopped in the middle of the road and turned to face me. This wasn't the same boy I'd seen at graduation. The kid in front of me was serious and I wondered how these boys who were really men dealt with everything that had been thrown at them.
"Em's always been different. He's quiet and calm. A little more sensitive, I guess." Quil shrugged before looking pensive. "He didn't want fast cars, women and money like most guys. He just wanted to marry Bella and have a family. He loves her, Chief."
I had known Embry loved Bella, hell, I'd seen it at graduation and I'd seen it again the second he appeared in front of me at the hospital.
Nodding at Quil, we moved forward. I felt my cell phone vibrate in my pocket, pulling it out to see if it was the hospital, I looked at the screen and quickly hit the ignore button. It was Renee again. I had been ignoring her phone calls since we parted at the hospital. I couldn't deal with her on top of everything else.
My stomach rolled as the council building came into view. Linda, Kay and Sue were waiting at the door for us. My closest friends, the same men I'd known for damn near my entire life, were on the other side of the door. They had lied and betrayed me in the worse way.
"Ready?" Quil stepped forward and wrenched the door open.
Walking over the threshold, I knew nothing would ever be the same again.
Quil led us down a short hallway to another door. This one was heavy oak and had intricate carvings. I thought Billy must have done the carving, he'd always been an expert woodworker. Opening the door, we walked inside. The room was set up like a conference room. There was an aisle with chairs on either side. At the end of the aisle was a long table. Billy, Harry, Old Quil and Sam sat at the table watching us enter. Off to the side I recognized the woman Sam was engaged to. Emily, I thought her name was.
Quil, Paul and Jared stepped in front of us and led the way down the aisle to the front seats that faced the council. Once we were seated, Billy made a point to catch the eyes of each man that sat at the table with him and then cautiously looked down at our small group.
No one had said a word. I had a feeling the council wasn't sure how much we knew and were waiting for us to show our hand.
I took a moment to look around. I noticed the absence of a key player. "Where is Jake?" I wanted to know.
"He is away on tribal matters," Billy answered. It was a lie and I knew it.
"Of course he is," Paul hissed. "We wouldn't want the prince to have to answer for anything now would we?"
Old Quil glared at Paul. "You'll remember who you are in front of," he thundered.
Paul launched himself from his seat. His frame vibrated as he growled. "And you'll remember who you are in front of!" he threatened, baring his teeth.
This wasn't going to get us anywhere. I stood up, placing what I hoped was a calming hand on Paul's chest. Once I was somewhat satisfied that Paul would not attack anyone, I turned and faced my life-long friends. "Tell me why," I needed to know. " I want to know why you did this. Why you hurt my daughter."
It was Billy that looked at me. "Charlie, we've been friends for a lot of years and you know that as the Chief of the tribe there are some things I cannot discuss."
"BIlly cut the shit. I know about the pack."
"And how did you find out about the Quileute pack?" Old Quil glared at our group, ignoring Paul's threat of only minutes ago.
Sue stood, "I told them."
"Sue...?" Harry gasped.
"NO!" She hissed. "You have lied and misused your power as Elders and Chief. It's time for you to answer for what you have all done. Now answer Charlie's question. You owe him that."
I regarded the men I had considered family, waiting for one of them to speak.
They didn't.
I did.
"I've known you almost my whole life. I was there when you got married. I waited with you as each of your children were born into this world. You paced the halls of Forks Hospital at my side as I waited for my own daughter to arrive." I paused as the memories colored my mind.
"Billy, I was there when Sarah took her last breath. I stood at your side as you buried her. I was with you when you were sentenced to a life in that chair, and I was there when you put the drink down and regained your independence." I stopped, needing to take a breath before my emotions became uncontrollable.
"You watched me worry about Bella when that son-of-a-bitch Cullen left her in the woods. You saw the way the life inside her faded more and more each day. You knew that I feared I'd lose her. And you heard me tell you how she had come back to life with Embry. You've been my brother in every way that counted. How could you do this?"
I had never been good with feelings. Hell, I was lousy with letting the people in my life know how I felt, but I'd meant each word I'd just spoken. I looked from Billy to Harry and waited. I hoped to see remorse. I wanted to see regret.
With a sigh, Billy locked eyes with me. I could see a shadow of regret, but just as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared. "Charlie, we are sorry that Bella has been injured and even sorrier that there has been a loss of a child, but we are not responsible." Billy voiced.
I stood gaping at my life long friend. It was true he may not have been the one to push Bella from the roadway, but that mattered very little at this point. "Do you not feel any responsibility?"
"I am the Chief of the Quileute tribe and I have to make choices. They are not always easy decisions, but they are necessary. Bella and Embry's relationship was a hindrance to the mission of the pack. I made a choice." Billy recited.
Surely he knew that I would see through his lies? Several minutes passed, Billy dropped his eyes from mine and looked to Sam.
Sam's glare was hard as he stared at each of the boys. Paul, Jared and Quil each stood from their seats. Their bodies mimicked one another's. They were ramrod straight, jaws set and eyes hard as they faced Sam and their Elders.
As angry, hurt and betrayed as I felt by both Billy's and Harry's actions, I was bowled over at the strength of the boys next to me. I knew from their explanation of pack life that facing Sam in defiance was physically painful. Yet, here they were doing just that.
Like the women, the mothers near me, I waited; holding my breath to see what would happen.
Quil stepped forward. He seemed to grow taller and larger before my eyes. He looked first at his grandfather, then at Harry and Billy before settling his glare onto Sam. "You are a false Alpha and I denounce you." His voice was hard as iron and sent chills down my spine.
Paul and Jared each took a step forward, seeming to understand what was happening. I knew whatever was taking place had been instinctual and not planned. You could feel it in the air.
Sam looked absolutely livid. Standing, "Stand down!" he roared, trembling.
"NO!" Quil took another step forward. "You are not an Alpha. You were born to follow and not lead. You have proven yourself an unworthy leader and I will not follow you. This pack will not follow you." Quil spoke with such finality that I felt myself wanting to pledge allegiance to him.
Dismissing Sam, Quil turned his eyes on Billy. "Jake may have Alpha blood in his veins, but instead of being a leader he chose to purposely hurt a member of the pack. Instead of being the leader we needed and could look up to, he betrayed one of his own. We will not follow him."
I sensed that what I was witnessing was something that hadn't been done before and would probably never again happen.
"My blood is that of the medicine man. I take command of this pack until a true leader can be found." As soon as his last word was spoken, he turned his body to Paul who immediately dropped to his knees and tilted his head. With a nod, Quil then turned to Jared. Like Paul before him, Jared dropped down and bared his neck.
Looking from Quil, Jared and Paul, I took in the shocked faces of the council. Their faces were a mix of shock and rage. Sam jumped over the table and charged Quil. Faster than I could comprehend, Jared grabbed Kay and Linda and shoved them behind him as Paul moved Sue and me out of the way.
"Stay back," Paul shouted as he stood behind Quil, next to Jared, who had also moved to stand behind Quil's body.
"I will not submit to you," Sam snarled.
"Submit or fight..." Quil's words hung heavy in the air.
I shifted to look at Linda. I could only imagine what she was feeling watching this... whatever this was... unfold. She looked seconds from flinging herself on Quil's back. The instinct to protect her child at all cost was as clear as day on her face.
Somehow I knew this wasn't something that could be intervened on. I stepped to her and offered her my hand as she had done for me as we waited in the hospital. It was all I could do.
"Kneel!" Quil roared, stepping to Sam. They were nose to nose.
Faster than lightening, Quil reached his arm out and gripped Sam around the neck. I could see the muscles in Quil's arms roll and shift underneath his skin. As if Sam were nothing more than pliable plastic, he bent under Quil's strength, his legs folded and he hit the concrete floor on his knees.
The shock was palpable.
"Submit," Quil demanded.
I couldn't see what Sam was seeing, but whatever it was had his eyes wide and his neck bared in submission.
Quil left Sam on his knees with his head bowed. Striding to the front of the room and standing before the council, he stared each one of them down. "You will no longer make decisions for this pack. Your days of ruling over the wolf pack are over. I am Alpha and I will decide what is best for this pack, with each of my brothers' input." His words were an order.
"Now you wait..." Billy's words died as Quil leaned in, resting just inches from his face.
"No, you wait. I am the Alpha. When Embry goes after his pound of flesh, it will be with his Alpha's, and his pack's, full support." With that Quil turned on his heel and strolled out of the room. I finally saw what Sam must have seen. Quil's eyes were yellow. The wolf that resided inside of him was on full display.
Jared and Paul ushered me, Sue, Linda and Kay down the aisle and out of the council building. No one said a word as we headed toward Quil's house.
