Authors Note: Thank you for reading this far. I am so excited for you to read this chapter. Please, please, please tell me what you think! If you read my original story I have a warning for you. The next chapter is completely original for this story. I am so excited for you to read it! If you review I might post it ahead of my posting schedule! As Always Happy Reading!
Chapter 26
Title: Don't Tell Them They Are Right.
POV: Jacob
We drove as far as we could with the truck. Piling out bringing the firewood up the cliff. It was an easy run. Someone had carved out that path. Probably so it would be easier for my dad's chair to get to the bonfire location. It was great to know that even though I abandoned the pack they took care of my family in my absence.
After the fifth or sixth trip up we carried all the wood needed up. It was going to be a fun night. Paul's car came up the road. I saw my sister in the passenger seat. She climbed out the second the car stopped.
"What are you doing! Be careful" Paul commented. Rachel did not listen. She ran up to me wrapping me in a hug.
"Hey sis" I said, hugging her.
"Hey bro." She said. Our hug ended and she hit me in the shoulder.
"Rachel" Paul warned.
"Hey I did not shoot him. I just hit him in the arm lightly. He will be fine." Rachel commented.
I laughed "I deserve that. Trust me I have been beating myself up all day."
"Oh yeah? Well stop it." Rachel said.
"What?" I asked.
"You need to be ready to support her. If you're beating yourself up you will do a shity job of supporting her" Rachel said.
"Okay fair" I told her.
"Just let her beat you up. Do not put more blame on yourself than the amount that is required." She kissed my cheek. "By the way I love her so do not break her heart."
I laughed as Rachel walked past me. Paul was holding a cooler with bags of food on top. He blocked Rachel when she tried to take some of the bags. "You are already carrying our baby. You do not need to carry any of these bags" Paul told her.
When did he go soft? I know when he first imprinted he became more calm but seriously he is just a softy now. I worry about what this baby will do to him. He will probably be a dad who can not say no to anything.
We loaded up all the supplies we needed for the bonfire. Food was set up on tables and the wood in the pit was set up, now we just need to light it. We will be waiting a little bit longer to light it though. At least until the sun goes down.
Food was served. The elders dished up first then the pack went up. You could tell who had imprinted by who was carrying more than one plate. It was cute to see the imprinted men balancing their plates and their partners' plates.
Embry and I went through the line last. Looking around I could not find Seth. "Embry where is Seth?"
"Oh he is probably with Ren." Embry told me.
"Oh." I said.
"Do not worry. They will both be coming to the fire." Embry informed me.
I tried to make my face look like I was not worried but I kind of was. The pack had joked about Seth and Ren being a couple enough for me to be a bit concerned. I hope once I see them together all the fear of what happened between Bella, Edward and I will be put to rest. I do not think I could go through that pain with someone I was imprinted to.
I walked towards the fire. Sam and My dad called me over to sit near them. Taking the place next to Sam I asked "Is Emily not coming to the fire tonight?"
"No. Jayden is too little to be outside for this long. Not to mention Emily is still recovering from giving birth." Sam told me.
"Oh right. I guess that keeps slipping my mind. She did not seem like a lady who just gave birth when she shot me." I laughed.
Billy joined in on the laughter "Well son you kind of deserved it."
"I know I did, dad," I responded.
"I knew you would come around to understand that. That is why I gave her my gun after Sam locked up theirs" Billy said nonchalantly.
"That makes me feel better. I thought she figured out how to unlock the guns I had stored away." Sam stated.
I looked at both of them open mouthed "It's good to know that my father wanted me to get shot."
"Well it's not only for your actions but, also I needed you to stay until we could explain things to you" Billy said.
"Sure, sure" I said. Billy smiled at that.
We sat around the bonfire. The conversations flowed easily. It was easy to get lost in the rhythm of conversation.
"Soon we will have to discuss if you will finally become the alpha Jacob" Sam Said. I looked at him. "What? I have just had a baby. I do not have time or the most bloodright for the position. Just think about it." Sam told me.
"I will think about it," I told Sam. I had not thought about what I was going to do. The only thing I thought about coming back for was Carlie.
"Please do" Billy commented "It would be nice to have my son home again."
I had finished my plate of food tossing it into the burning fire. Finding satisfaction in the fire tearing and sending pieces of the plate soaring into the air.
Looking into the fire, that's when I saw her coming out of the forest on Seth's shoulders. My heart lurched. I needed to be near her.
She did not see me. I was able to watch her laugh with Seth. Claire went running up to her. Quill looked at me raising his eyebrow. I felt every pack member looking at me. They were so sure I would imprint on this girl. So sure in fact that they broke away from our traditional treaty with the bloodsuckers to protect her for me.
I looked back at Sam and Billy. "You guys called it," I told them.
Looking back at Carlie she had her back to me. Looking like she was talking frantically to Seth. I stood up. Taking the long way around the fire I stood within reaching distance of her.
"If you do not want to see him tell me now. I will whisk you away from this place" Seth said. I respected him for this offer. He protected her. From her body language this was a common thing for Seth to offer to protect her. From now on I wanted to be one of the people who would protect her. If she would have me to protect her.
I saw her turning and looking in the direction of where I was sitting moments before. Seth placed his hands on her shoulders. For a moment I thought she had whispered to him that she did want to leave. My heart dropped. I wanted her to stay. Seth turned her to face me. My arms went up reaching for her. I stopped myself from closing the gap between us. I will not force her to come to me. My arms did not stay empty for long.
She bolted headlong into my open arms. I held her close. This felt right. Everyone around the fire cheered. She pulled her face away looking up at me. I saw the bright blush on her cheeks. Everything was perfect at this moment.
She stayed glued to my side as we walked back to my spot around the fire. I sat on the ground and she climbed between my legs resting her head against my chest. The world was perfect. Everything fit together.
Claire was sitting with Quill across the fire. She was making faces at Carlie. I do not think I was meant to see the faces. I only laughed once. When I laughed Carlie leaned back as if warning me to hold it in. Her hair was done in the cutest double braid and bun. I wish it was loose though. That was my favourite with her relaxed curls.
"Told you I had someone special for you to meet." Billy said to Carlie.
"Yes. You called it. Did you ever make that bet with Grandpa?" Carlie asked
"I can not remember if we ever did," Billy answered.
"Well I am sure Grandma Sue will be able to remember. She is usually pretty on top of what bets are happening in the family" Carlie laughed. Her laugh was a mesmerizing sound.
"We will have to ask her. I do believe if the bet was made that I won" Billy commented.
"You would have won. Grandpa had no faith in it. Though the bet might not be fair. Grandpa Charlie did not have a full grasp on the supernatural back then" Carlie commented.
"He does now," Billy said, raising an eyebrow.
"I think he is getting used to it. Still the same need to know rule" Carlie smiled. Billy laughed. Sam broke out in a chuckle. I was apparently left out of the joke.
"How many times did you tell your grandfather too much information for him to handle?" Sam asked.
Carlie leaned back into me. Her eyes looking towards the stars "Um. I think the last count was 15. Though I am only counting the times he fainted" Carlie said. Colour flooding to her cheeks.
"Wait, Charlie fainted," I asked shocked.
"Yes." Carlie turned in my lap to look at me. "Grandpa Charlie is the first person I would call for a stressful human issue. The last person I would call for a supernatural topic. Let's just say I sometimes forget that he does not want to know the full story. So he has sometimes gotten too much information from me for him to handle. Grandma Sue on the other hand is amazing with the supernatural stuff. That is one of the reasons both Grandma Sue and Grandpa Charlie are not attending tonight's bonfire. Too much risk of supernatural talk." Her eyes sparkled as she spoke.
"My favourite one was when he passed out in the boat when he took you fishing." Seth sat near us and was laughing hysterically.
"That is my least favourite," Carlie said.
"Wait fill me in. What happened" I asked.
"I can't. I have blocked that memory" Carlie stated. She began staring into the fire.
"Well I have not." Sam laughed. "She said something that got Charlie freaked out. Granted you were only how old then?" Sam asked.
"Passing for a 4 year old" Carlie said in a sigh.
Sam had to gain control of his laughter before he could start again. "Charlie had fainted, falling headfirst into the water. Ren was holding Charlie's head out of the water. Trying desperately to get him back on the boat."
"Oh my god. That sounds terrifying" I commented pulling Carlie closer.
"Oh that part was" Sam said "it's the next part that is funny. So she was holding Charlies head above water and screaming for help. Embry had come across her first swimming across the lake in human form. He flipped Charlie back into the boat" Sam broke out in laughter again.
"And all was saved" Embry commented "The end"
"Great story Sam" Carlie said jumping on board with Embry to end the story.
"Oh no! You are not getting out of the best part" Leah commented.
Carlie lightly tossed her head back to rest it on my chest. I could tell she was trying to be a good sport. Hugging her tighter to my chest.
"Embry do you want to tell Jacob the rest of the story?" Sam asked.
"No not really no." Embry said. He looked just as put out as Carlie.
"Embry climbed into the boat and made sure Ren was okay. They propped Charlie safely in the front of the boat. Embry started the engine to get them to shore and flooded it. When he went to fix it the motor sunk." Leah said breaking off to laugh.
"Sunk?" I was confused.
"I still fully believe it was not our fault Embry. I think the fish stole that motor. It was revenge for the mass genocide Grandpa has been inflicting for years." Carlie said. Embry reached over and fist bumped her.
"So they sat out in the middle of the lake for at least an hour." Sam said.
"Then I came across them" Quill added to the story "phasing into a wolf, I swam out to them."
"We ended up getting to shore by both Quil and I swimming in wolf form pulling them with the ropes." Embry said. Obviously trying to get the story done.
"The best part is that they had oars. The. Entire. Time." Brady commented.
Carlie and Embry shared a look. I do not think anyone else would have caught it.
"I am sorry I did not have a dad to teach me how to do boat stuff when I was a child" Embry commented. Carlie giggled.
"That is not my favourite part. Charlie found out that both Ren and Embry were stuck out in the middle of the lake without knowing what to do. Or how to use an oar. So he took it upon himself to teach them how to boat." Quil added.
"How long did that take?" I asked.
"Six weeks. Every weekend spend on a boat" Carlie stated without emotions in her voice.
"So many fish." Embry said, wiggling a little.
"We did find a great way to get out of fishing though," Carlie added.
"That was not a great way," Billy condemned.
"We would tell Charlie that 'need to know business' was happening on the lake. He would freak and fishing lessons would be canceled." Embry laughed "Billy you're just salty because we picked the best fishing days for need to know business. Because they were the best fishing days they would also be the longest."
The conversations broke up into smaller conversations. Sam made his way home. Claiming Emily would kill him if he was not home for the night shift of feeding. I laughed harder knowing that she was not above shooting someone.
Carlie curled into me. This reminded me of the times we spent on her couch. The fire began to die down. People started leaving in groups. First the elders, then the imprinted wolves and their imprints. Claire came up and hugged Carlie goodnight. Carlie told her "six" what she was referring to I do not know. Rachel ruffled my hair, and kissed Carlie on the cheek before making her way out with Paul. The rest of the single boys had to go on patrol before heading back.
Seth stopped by us before leaving. "Would you like me to take you home?" He asked Carlie.
"Nah. I think I have found my favourite place to be. I would like to stay here a while" Carlie commented. This made my heart skip a beat.
"Okay." Seth smiled. "Well I will go tell your dad to not send the search party for you then"
She laughed "oh please my overprotective father will not call off the dogs. Once he feels he should send them."
"Well you're right. I will try my best" Seth said. Leaning in and kissing Carlie on the cheek.
"Thank you Seth" She said.
"Anything for you" He responded. Walking away leaving us to be the last people left near the fire.
Carlie turned in my lap. Wrapping her legs around my hips. She put her hands in my hair. Pulling my face closer to her. I was nervous. I did not want to kiss her. I did not deserve that pleasure. I hurt her.
"Shhh. Shut up your mind" She told me.
"What do you mean shut up my mind?" I asked her.
"I mean fucking kiss me" She said in an exhale. Pulling my face to hers. She kissed me full of passion and longing. She needed this kiss. I felt it through her lips but also through the imprint. She needed me to kiss her more than anything else right now. I pushed aside my fears of how I let her down and kissed her.
"You did not tell me who you were" She whispered against my lips. Time has flown by. Only embers are now left in the fire.
"You did not tell me who you were" I commented back.
She kissed me hard again. "I did not think you could fit into my world." Her voice sounded panicked against my lips.
"But I do," I told her.
"I was breaking my own heart since I last saw you" She whispered.
I broke the kiss "Why?" I asked.
"Because you are so important to me." She cut herself off "if you were human. I could not ask you to interact with the supernatural. So I was breaking my own heart to protect you."
"Do you want to know the reason I came back to La Push?" I asked her. She just nodded. "I was going to beg the pack to help me find you. I had just found you. There was no way I was letting you get away" I told her.
She kissed me hard. I returned the kiss.
"I am so sorry" I started after another long round of kisses.
"Shhh. There will be a time and a place to talk about that. Not tonight. Not when I know I can have you forever" Carlie kissed me harder.
Her phone went off a while later. She broke our kiss. Pulling it out of her jeans. She read it and smiled.
"Do you trust me?" she asked.
"With my life." I told her.
"Then come with me." She whispered, kissing me one more time.
We walked down the path. The same one I took to bring the firewood up. Waiting at the end of the trail was a running Volvo. I paused. She pulled on my hand. "I thought you said you trusted me" she commented.
"I do," I said.
"Hold your horses cowboy I am not getting married to you yet" She joked.
She climbed into the driver's seat. I ran to the passengers seat climbing in. We drove through the familiar roads. I was not focused on where we were going. I was too distracted by the fact that I had Carlie back.
She stopped in front of a cabin in the middle of the woods. Climbing out she stood in front of the car. I joined her moments later. She jumped into my arms kissing me. I carried her into the cabin, our lips never breaking for more than a second. Shutting the door she touched my forehead showing me that she wanted us to go in the first door down the hallway. I did not hesitate. Opening that door I shut it the second we passed through the door. I opened my eyes and found the bed. Placing her down on it.
She paused our kissing. Taking off her shoes. "I can not sleep in jeans," she commented.
Popping up and grabbing a pair of pj's out of a dresser in the room. I watched her take off her jeans. I have never seen something so sexy in my entire life. My fingers wanted to touch, wanted to help. She pulled up the pj pants and ran back to me. Kissing hard.
We fell back on the bed. Locking ourselves together with each other's limbs. Time passed like that. We had not stopped kissing. She pulled away yawning. I brought her closer to me. Pulling the blanket (that we had tossed all around the bed) over top of us.
She cuddled into my chest. This felt right. This felt like home.