I don't own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
Cheryl, and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and April, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.
Ch. 15
Quil and Seth followed Sam out of the cabin. Jared slowly dragged himself to his feet then walked with a limp toward the door. He looked over his shoulder at me and frowned.
"Aren't you coming?" he asked.
"Uh…no." I snorted. Going too close to a wolf fight didn't sound safe to me.
Jared continued to stare, and I wondered what his problem was. He leaned against the door frame and shifted his weight on to his good leg.
"If you try to run…he will only chase you down or make one of us do it," he warned.
"I figured." I rolled my eyes and went to the window.
I was praying Sam would be able to get back in control. I trusted he wouldn't hold me here against my will. I didn't want to rely on Edward getting here because the thought of him taking on all these wolves solo scared me. I fingered the necklace he gave me then tucked it out of sight.
I pulled back slightly from the glass when Jacob stormed out of the woods. He stopped several feet from Sam and crossed his arms across his chest. Jacob seemed to have grown since I last saw him. The look on his face was intimidating.
"What are you doing here, Sam? You're no longer part of the pack," Jacob bellowed at him. "Who went to him?" he demanded, turning on Seth and Quil.
"You left a loophole," Quil responded in a strained voice.
Sam stepped in front of Jacob. "It's come to my attention you're out of control. You abused the position as Alpha, forcing the pack to do things that go against everything we stand for like kidnapping Bella Swan and injuring one of our own brothers. I am here to take over—as clearly you are unfit as a leader," Sam spoke in a smooth but authoritative voice.
"Like hell you will. I am not going to step down. Bella was brought here for her own protection. That bloodsucking leech was trying to take her from me. She is mine! She is carrying my baby." Jacob's face contorted in rage.
"I don't belong to anyone, Jacob Ephraim Black. I am a surrogate for Angela. Do you remember her? The girl you almost killed by causing her accident." I hollered at him.
"Liar. You and the baby belong to me!" Jacob took a step forward, but Sam shoved him back.
"That's enough, Jacob. You will stop," Sam ordered.
I watched Jacob's body shake and jerk—for a moment, I thought it had worked. But then Jacob smirked and tossed his head arrogantly.
"I am the great grandson of Ephraim Black. I will not take orders from a Uley. You are going to take orders from me. Out of my way, Sam," Jacob demanded.
Sam's body convulsed but then he stood taller. "No."
"Then I'll teach you the same way I taught Jared." Jacob lunged at Sam, changing in mid-air.
Sam shifted into a wolf before he hit the ground. The two rolled around in a fit of snarls and growls. If it wasn't for the two varying shades of fur it would be hard to tell where one wolf ended and the other began.
"We should help Sam." Quil took a step forward.
"No." Seth grabbed his elbow. "We need to resist changing into wolves. If we do, Jacob can use us to hurt Sam."
Seth glanced to the forest line and I followed his gaze. I spotted Leah in the shadows of a large pine. Paul was perched on a large boulder closer to the road.
"Phase back," Seth told them.
Jacob growled loudly and Leah made a whimper noise, her head hung down in defeat. Quil and Seth exchanged frowns as Jared muttered a curse from the doorway before stepping outside.
The fight continued and I couldn't tell who was winning as they seemed evenly matched. At one point, Jacob slammed Sam into a large tree so hard, it started to topple and caused a domino effect. Leah let loose a panicked whine, as she was frozen in the path of the chain of trees that were falling in her direction.
"Leah, move!" Seth cried in despair as I screamed, covering my mouth.
Sam leapt back to his feet and rushed toward Leah. He barely managed to shove her out of the way before the trees landed on top of him. There was a moment of stunned silence that followed. Leah was on her side with her back facing us, it was hard to tell if she was hurt.
"Seth, remember we gotta to fight it." Quil grabbed a hold of him.
Jared stumbled down the steps and tried to help him. Seth was shaking so hard he was starting to blur. Jacob turned his head and growled at them.
"I don't know what you said—and I don't care. You are evil, perhaps even worse than Utlapa himself," Seth glared at him.
Jacob snarled then reverted back into a human. "Are you seriously foolish enough to challenge me? You're nothing but a Clearwater…a mutt. Apologize to me now and I will let you live."
"I won't apologize for speaking the truth," Seth refused.
I let out startled gasp as Seth was able to defy Jacob's orders. The other wolves seemed just as surprised as me. Jacob's brows furrowed in confusion.
Seth shrugged Quil and Jared off, taking a step forward. "I may be a Clearwater, but it doesn't make you any less wrong." He took another step, squaring his shoulders. "You're right, I may be a mutt, but I see it as my advantage. I am a descendent of the Black family, even if it isn't Ephraim himself. He would be ashamed to call you his kin—I know I am." Seth straightened, and I swore he grew taller. "You're forgetting, I also have the blood of the Uley line…and Aterea, running through my veins. If anyone is more suitable for being Alpha, it's myself or Leah," Seth stated.
"Fine. You want to play it that way, then so be it. You and Leah can fight it out to see who will take me on." Jacob sneered. "Leah, kill Seth."
Leah looked at Seth and whined. She took a few steps forward and started to crouch. The look in her eyes was heartbreaking as it was clear she was tormented about attacking her brother.
"Leah, you don't have to listen him. Fight it with everything you've got," Seth pleaded with her. "Come on, sis, you can do it."
The small wolf growled and disappeared into the woods, only reappear moments later still yanking her top on.
"Fuck you, Jacob. I am not fighting my brother. The only mutt I will be taking a bite out of is you," she snapped.
Jacob couldn't hide his shock. "Paul, take out Leah. I've got Seth."
Paul glanced to the pile of trees, where Sam was last seen then jumped from his perch. He rushed forward and planted himself in front of Leah. She gave him the bitch brow before he turned around and switched to protective mode.
"What is wrong with you all, have you all forgotten who the Alpha is?" he screamed.
"I believe Seth is now." Quil spoke up.
"I'll stand behind him," Jared stated.
Leah hesitated for only a moment. "My brother has a good heart and is stronger than most give him credit for. I would die to protect him before I would let anyone like you hurt him. If that means he has to become Alpha then I will stand behind him."
Paul huffed and nodded sharply. Off in the distance was a long wolf howl which made a shiver run through me. The rest paused and look off in the direction it came from.
"Either Embry agreed with us or the Cullens crossed the border," Quil muttered.
Sirens pierced the air a moment later. I grew nervous as I didn't want Charlie anywhere near this mess. Paul took off into the trees and reappeared with his shorts on.
"The coven leader and Edward are with Charlie Swan, and they are headed this way," he announced.
"We need to fight the Cullens together," Jacob declared.
"We will not fight the Cullens. Especially, in front of Chief Swan. They came here for Bella and she is free to go with them. However, if Edward Cullen wants to fight you for taking his mate than we won't stop him or help you," Seth said decisively.
"I can take care of the leech. But what is disgusting is you believe Bella is his mate or don't support your brother. You've betrayed me—all of you." Jacob hands clenched.
"Don't speak of us as your brothers when you might have killed one of us." Seth shook his head.
"Fine. I'll take Bella and leave." Jacob headed for the cabin, instinctively I took a step back.
"You're not taking her anywhere," Seth stated, as the pack formed a loose circle around Jacob.
Jacob glanced around with a scowl before phasing back into a wolf. He dodged passed Jared and ran into the forest. The others glanced at Seth for orders.
"Leah and Quil, follow him and tell Embry to join you. Paul and Jared help me get the trees off of Sam. Then Paul join the others," he issued his first order.
"On it." Quil yanked off his shirt and gave Leah a head start before running out of sight.
The others headed for the trees with apprehensive expressions. I slowly made my way out of the cabin but stayed on the small porch. The boys looked like they were struggling with some of the trees despite their combined strength.
"Is Sam still alive?" I asked.
Seth looked over his shoulder. "His heartbeat is weak. He hasn't phased in so long. I don't know if he's still able to heal himself."
"Seth, I don't if we can do this on our own. Maybe you should ask the others to come back. Even then…" Jared looked upset.
"Let Carlisle help him. He will if you give him a chance," I said as the sirens started to get louder.
"Dr. Fang?" Paul scowled.
"He's been a doctor for centuries, he's not going to start killing now. He lives by his oath," I defended Carlisle.
Before the wolves could respond, the cruiser sped into the yard. Charlie screeched to a halt, sending rocks flying. Edward was out of the car first, looking wildly around. I could see from here his eyes were flint black and he was barely in control of himself.
"I'm okay," I called out to him.
His gaze fell on me then headed in my direction, too fast to be human speed. I only hoped Charlie was too distracted to notice. Edward leapt up the steps in a single bound and embraced me. He buried his nose in my hair breathing in deeply before I heard his sigh of relief.
"Seriously, I am okay," I told him, I placed a hand on his chest the rubbed it up to his cheek.
"I'll be the judge of that," he murmured. "You have no idea how worried I've been."
Edward pulled back and his eyes were lighter as they flittered over me, examining me. He pushed up my sleeve and spotted the red welts on my skin.
"Who hurt you?" Charlie demanded, coming up the steps.
"Jacob did," I lied. "He was the one who took me here. The others tried to help me but he ran off. Sam is seriously hurt, a tree fell on him."
"How did a tree fall on him?" Dad asked, turning around.
The final tree was off Sam and Carlisle was kneeling beside Sam's unmoving body. While the Jared and Seth stood by silently watching his every move. Edward's arm wrapped around me, pulling me close. Charlie looked at me then back at Sam, clearly unsure where he was needed most.
"Dad, I'm fine," I promised.
"Does the reservation have an ambulance? I can do only so much here, he needs to be transported to their clinic. Does the clinic here have an x-ray machine?" Carlisle looked up Seth.
"No ambulance, we usually use a back of Old Quil's van or a truck," Seth said.
"I can radio Forks, will he make it that long?" Dad headed for the cruiser.
"I have controlled the bleeding but he needs further scans for internal damage," Carlisle stated.
"We will bring him to the clinic. Sam's truck is right there, we can use it to transport him," Seth stated.
"Now hold on, son. The hospital would be better, this isn't about your prejudice is it," Charlie lectured.
"No, Chief. The clinic is where Sam would want to be. Dr. Cullen, you are welcome to help him," Seth became adamant.
"Thank you. Bella, how are you feeling?" he asked.
"I keep telling you all. I feel fine. Honest," I told him.
"Have you felt the babies move at all?" Carlisle asked.
"I…" I bit my lip as I thought about it. I hadn't felt them, but I hadn't felt sick either or lightheaded.
"Go back to your dad's. Rest, eat, and drink something. If you haven't felt movement within the hour go to a clinic," Carlisle directed. "You're probably in shock."
I nodded becoming nervous as Edward helped me down the steps. Seth tossed a set of keys toward Edward, which he caught easily.
"I'm going to help them to the clinic then I'll join you at the house as soon as I can." Charlie looked at me in concern. "Edward, can you help us get Sam into the truck before you take Bella home."
Edward looked about to refuse before I gave him a gentle nudge. "Go. I'll meet you at the car. Sam needs your help more than I do," I said gently.
He reluctantly headed over to help the others and I went to the Rabbit and got in. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and rubbed gentle circles on my belly. I was alerted to Edward rejoining me when I heard the car door close.
"You can hear the babies' heartbeats, right?" I asked him, opening my eyes.
He nodded. "Yes, but they are on the low side of normal range and your blood pressure is high." He focused on the road, his hand was tight around the steering wheel. I was reminded of when he saved me in Port Angeles.
"I know you must be mad…"
"Bella, I don't want to get into this right now—you need to relax," he said softly but sternly.
"I am sorry. They had orders to hurt anyone in the way of taking me and Timothy…"
"I know." He sighed and removed one hand off the wheel and reached for my hand, lacing our fingers together. He lifted it and kissed my pulse point lightly.
"I am not angry with you. Although, I don't understand why you left the apartment. I am furious with Jacob and the wolves. And not to mention Rosalie," he said angrily.
"The sun was out," I said to him.
He scoffed. "Don't excuse her, you have an underground garage."
"The wolves did take me, but they managed to finally break free from Jacob's control. They helped me," I reasoned.
"Not soon enough," he retorted.
I gave up because he was too upset to be reasoned with at the moment. "Can we stop at the diner, please?"
"You need to rest." He shook his head.
"Are you going argue with everything I say?" I asked defensively. "Charlie probably doesn't have anything to eat in the house. Carlisle also said I should eat."
"What would you like? I'll order it to go. You need to rest, and I can't be around humans at the moment." He let go of my hand to pull out his phone.
I nodded understandably. "A hamburger with bacon and cheddar, fries, a small salad with Ranch on the side. Also a chocolate milkshake…and apple no…cherry cobbler. Oh, would it be too much to get onion rings too."
His lips twitched into a half of grin. "At least you have an appetite, that's a good sign."
"I'm feeling starved all of the sudden," I said sheepishly.
Edward placed the order then shoved his phone back into his pocket. He held my hand again and we rode in silence to the diner. I shifted as close as I could to him then rested my head on his shoulder. He placed a kiss on the top of my head as we sped by the welcome to Forks sign.
A/N: So, I'm betting most of you didn't see the chapter would go this way. Yes, Jacob is still alive at the moment, but at least he can't use the pack as his puppets anymore. Fun fact: none of the rest of the pack has all three bloodlines running through them like Seth and Leah. I used the Twilight Sage Offical Illustrated guide to check the family trees.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Also thank you to whoever recommended me to TLS.
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