THIRTY-THREE
ALPHAS
LEAH
When we get back to the house, I'm exhausted beyond words, both emotionally and physically. The dinner was actually a success, and a joy – I really missed my family and being with the twins again. It felt like the old days even though Dad's fish-fry and boisterous laughter were missing.
Seeing Lotus and her parents affected me much more than I had expected, mainly because the baby was actually excited to see me again. It feels so good to know that she missed me, as much as I missed her. She has grown so much in such a short space of time, a matter of weeks. Her little personality astounds me. Rachel was quite supportive of me and Jake, which caught me by surprise a little, and I hope it's genuine rather than what she feels compelled to do because of Rebecca.
Then there was my mother's speech slash tongue-lashing to Billy. I'm so proud of her for standing up to the Chief, and for sticking up for me and Jacob. Without her and Renesmee there to talk to the older man, the dinner probably would have gone south, with Billy leaving before we'd even eaten.
I was happy to see the Blacks altogether again after more than a decade apart. I know Jacob is glad to have his father and his sisters back too. Their tearful reunion was bittersweet though, a greeting tainted by Billy's disbelief and skepticism. His welcome did not carry an apology, nor was it full acceptance, but it was a start. And it opened up the possibility that the Council would one day see Jacob and me in a different light.
What made him more receptive was Renesmee's presence. Billy's weird adoration of her couldn't be more obvious, neither his lukewarm attitude towards me. I bet he still thinks I am incapable of causing anything but trouble, that I have no value. He still doubts Jake's commitment to the tribe and pack as well, even though he's relieved his son came back. I'm glad that Nessie can be here to give her side of things to support me and Jacob, but we don't need her to do what we've been doing for years. The issue with the packs is that we've been split for too long and finding common ground will take some time. But since so many members are about to stop phasing, it won't be so bad. We can handle the smaller numbers with ease with the Young Seven gone. Jacob's imprint has nothing to do with any of that. AT ALL.
It's not Billy's job to dictate her role in our lives. As willing as I am to give Nessie a chance because I can't keep ignoring the imprint, and as much as I sympathize with her for being infertile, I still want there to be clear cut lines determining where we both stand. For my sanity, at least.
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Bringing myself back to the present moment, I glance over my shoulder to see what Jacob's doing. He's lying on the mattress, reading an article from one of his mechanics blogs. I can tell by the slight pout on his face that he's trying to distract himself from thinking about dinner.
I slide on one of his t-shirts and stretch myself out on the mattress. "It went better than we could have hoped, what's on your mind?"
Jacob sighs and looks at me, dropping his tablet to rest on his stomach. "I know, honey…I just…I worry that things between me and Dad will never be like how it was before I phased. Life was much simpler then. We didn't have all these expectations between us beyond me taking care of him and doing my work at school."
"Unfortunately, nothing stays the same, but I am sorry that your relationship is so strained. I was sure that after the waterworks, Billy would have been more encouraging to you. But I think in his own way, he tried. He needs time." I try not to grimace at my words. I'm only trying to shed a positive light on Billy because Jacob needs to be reassured that he hasn't lost his only parent over a girl – over me.
"He doesn't trust me to be there anymore. And what can I expect when I've shirked my responsibilities every time."
I kiss his shoulder, "I've learned never to doubt that about you. You always come through Jake."
A smile tugs at his lip for only a brief second, then Jacob turns and kisses me on the lips as a way of thanks. "I also don't like how he treats you."
"And I don't want you to think that you need to constantly stick up for me or whatever. Your father is welcome not to like me or befriend me. For now, like I said, let's just give him some time to come around. It's the only way I can get through this and not go crazy."
"You're going to be my wife someday Leah, you're the mother of his grandchild, the future Alpha whether boy or girl." Jacob plants a firm warm palm over my lower stomach and I smile. It would be amazing to see my daughter become Alpha one day, but I hope that she doesn't at the same time. "I'm always going to want the best treatment for you, you're my queen, you're the Queen of La Push, not Emily as Sam would have people believe." Jacob winks at me and I shake my head at his antics.
I inhale the scent of his skin and hum quietly as I exhale and burrow into his side, throwing one leg over, almost knocking the tablet off the bed.
"Nessie and Seth were pretty good tonight…?"
I roll my eyes. "I guess."
"I could see it, you know? Them together? It's definitely still weird, but watching them tonight I could sense that there's more. My wolf can feel a bond between them, more than just pack loyalty."
"He's okay with it?" I ask, surprised as always of what Jacob is capable of doing.
"He's still territorial over her safety, but otherwise it feels fine. I'm just helping him to let go a little more of her every day."
"Are you ready for Sam?" I ask, needing to touch on the more important topic.
Jacob sighs loudly. "I dunno Leah. I have to be though."
"Just be honest with him about what you want," I suggest.
"What exactly is it that I even want? The pack is already shrinking, the rest of us don't need to be monitored, we know how to stick to a patrol schedule. He knows everything about the tribe and what's taking place right now with the move. Honestly, I'm redundant Lee. Sam's doing the job I never really wanted. What do I say to him about that?"
"Jacob, stop beating up on yourself. You were just a kid when all this happened."
"So was he and so were you. Nineteen wasn't all that old."
"Sam's just different. He needs people to love him, to be proud of him for what he's doing. Growing up without his father made him that way. He's never felt good enough for anyone." Not even Emily, especially after scratching her face. I bite my lip, thinking about whenever his birthday or his father's birthday would roll around. Sam would always get mopey and try to hide it behind a smile.
"But I'm the Chief's son. I am the Chief, technically. And I've just…I was a fool to never take it seriously - plus it doesn't feel right when Dad's still alive and well. I guess I'm just a fucking coward."
"If that's the way you feel Jacob, then do the opposite of everything you've done before. Go to Council, request to sit with them and be involved. Go to Sam and make amends however you can, and work with him on the move. Get to know the tribe better and their concerns. You don't have to be like Sam, there are other things you can do. You could teach the younger ones how to fix cars or carve, you could teach them self-defense, you could take over Gym at the school!" I'm breathless after spewing all the ideas that just popped into my head. "You're good at so many things."
I watch carefully while Jacob's face goes through a myriad of changes as he considers each word carefully. But when he doesn't say anything in return, I huff and roll my eyes. "If you don't want it, we can leave again tomorrow and just leave things as they are, then! Sam is happy erasing the Black name from the top spot!"
"Leah, just stop now," Jacob growls at me impatiently, rolling onto his side, setting down his tablet and punching the pillow to the right shape.
"I'm trying to wake you up Jacob! You've got to KNOW what you REALLY want for your future! It's not just you and me anymore. We've got a child to support. I don't want a perfect, rich life, but I need this to be a happy, stable home – no matter what country or state we're in. If you're not happy then how will I be happy?" I stare at the back of his head, but he doesn't respond. "You've got to accept who you are and your importance to this stupid place, isn't that why we're here? Because this is where you need to be?"
"I know, okay?" Jacob snaps.
I know he's upset with me for being so blunt, but if he's facing Sam and the Council, he's got to have his shit together. I won't have my Alpha looking weak in front of anyone. Jacob needs to know what he has to offer and what he's willing to give or sacrifice. If we're going to be here, then we're committing to the tribe again, but in a new, visible way. I wanted to be selfish, I wanted to think only of myself when I left La Push. But now I know that I can't. We've got to do things right for our baby, the future children of our bloodlines, and the future pack, whenever it appears for the next cycle.
I slide down onto the mattress and roll over to my left, facing away from him too. After a few minutes, I sigh in frustration, hating the distance between us. I scooch my back up against his, so he knows that I'm still here and that I'm strong enough to help him through this.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
My mother calls early in the morning, informing me that Jacob and I are to meet at Billy's house for a quiet Council meeting without the pack. I'm nervous, but anxious to get this all out of the way. It's time for us to put our game-faces on.
After getting dressed, I head to the kitchen for some breakfast. Jacob glances up at me from the newspaper, where he's looking at the Wanted section. He's going back to the auto-shop but it's not enough. If he could hire himself out to another auto-shop or find some other type of work, it would really help us save some money to fix the house before our baba comes.
"Anything good?" I ask, as I set some cereal and milk down on the kitchen table where he's seated.
Jacob's eyes give me a full once over, taking in my simple black tee and jeans (the JB uniform, as I call it) before grunting. "Nah. But there's stuff you might be into. I circled a few."
I smile over at him, bending over to kiss his forehead while massaging his shoulders. He practically reeks of tension and I know that after last night, he's wary of me. "It'll be fine Jake, we'll make it work. ALL of it. I promise."
Jacob reaches for one of my hands, interrupting my ministrations on his taut muscles. "I'm so tired of feeling like a failure," he sighs, leaning his head back against my midsection. I thread my fingers through his cropped hair, slowly kneading his scalp, which causes a low rumble in his chest.
"That's how you may feel, but you're not a failure. Like I said, just do what's in your heart. I just want you to be happy with your life Jacob. After all that we've been through, the least we deserve is to be happy now. We've got a miracle on the way."
"I know honey, I know. I love you both so much. I still don't know how I got so lucky." Jacob gets up and pulls me into his arms possessively, anchoring my body against his. The golden glow of the Alpha alights his eyes and Jacob dips his head, sucking the mark on my neck, making my knees buckle instantly. He doesn't let me fall, and his hot mouth travels up my neck until Jacob snags my lips with his teeth, kissing me fiercely. It quickly gets heated as his hands explore my upper body, but I pull away when I start feeling breathless and sweaty.
"I need to get breakfast before we leave," I remind him, straightening my clothes while eyeing the huge erection tenting his sweats. "You've still got to get changed."
Jacob grimaces but nods in agreement. I know sex helps to calm and reassure him, but now is not the time - as much as I wish it was.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As we pull up to the little red house in the Rabbit, Jacob leans over and kisses me on the lips. "Ready?" he whispers, nudging my nose with his.
"As I'll ever be." Our eyes meet for a few moments before he pulls me in for another warm, slow kiss that takes my breath away. "Stop stalling," I tease, fingering the stubble on his face.
We make it to the front door, which Jacob boldly opens and steps inside, tugging me behind him.
Old Quil and his bestie Feather Rock, Peter Ravenwood the principal of the Tribal School, Sam, Sue and Billy are seated in the lounge, each nursing a mug of coffee, with a plate of baked goods on the coffee table. Emily no doubt sent over a mixed box for the occasion.
I take a deep breath and hold my head up high as I follow Jacob and take one of the two vacant seats that are facing the elders – and Sam.
Sam immediately stiffens as he sniffs the air, his narrowed eyes scanning us from head to toe. He and Peter wear similar frowns of disdain and yet their eyes betray their curiosity.
"Good morning, Jacob, Leah," my mother begins, and from there curt pleasantries are exchanged.
"Hello Leah," Sam says to me in his deep baritone. The familiar, husky tone washes over me, causing me to flinch, because any past emotion between us is no longer welcome.
Jacob growls quietly under his breath and Sam's eyes slide away from mine to his. "Black," Sam nods, disdain coloring his face now.
"Uley," Jacob clips, his jaw clenched.
I shrink back at the exchange, as their wolves seem to push against one another.
"Hey, Alphas!" I snap my fingers, capturing both of their attention. "You need to give it a rest, at least until after we talk."
"Yes, now is not the time for fighting, please," Mom looks between Sam and Jacob and they both reluctantly look away from each other.
Pulling off his signature baseball cap, Old Quil comes over and kisses my hand with a jovial welcome, which surprises me. "I hear congratulations are in order, young Leah." He chuckles with that goofy, half-blind face of his. "I'm so glad to hear that our True Alpha has been up to good things such as securing his bloodline."
"Quil! You old fool!" my mother huffs and shakes her head, but even she can't help but smile at his misbehavior in front of the Chief, who, on the other hand, seems so withdrawn. I get the sense that he's not happy with how things are between Sam and Jacob.
"What can I say? It was a pleasant surprise for both of us," Jacob looks over at me for confirmation and I happily agree and accept Quil's well wishes for my continued health – even promising to go foraging for a few prenatal herbs with Pearl and Feather Rock in the woods, which I should be taking as my ancestors always did.
"Would you like something to drink?" Billy offers, while bringing our conversation to an abrupt halt.
"I'm good for now thanks, I just ate before I left home." I cringe as I think of the word "home," not knowing how he would take that. This house technically is Jacob's home. The fact that he now lives at the old Wilde family home must not sit well with the Black patriarch.
Humph, but that's what he gets for treating his only son like shit.
"I'm good too, Dad. What's this all about?" Jacob asks, rubbing his palms over his denim-clad legs.
"Well, as you know, there are many things to be discussed, but we called you both here today to talk about the origins and nature of your relationship."
"What?" I snap, wondering why that's any of their damned business. Jacob's arm stretches over and grips the back of my chair. Covertly, his thumb brushes the mark on my neck and I involuntarily take a deep calming breath and sink back into the seat. I shoot him a glare for placating me like that, but he turns his attention to the nosey people in front of us.
"Sue made a valid point that this entire situation has never occurred in our histories, and we are keen on recording it for posterity, and so that we ourselves can better understand your unique circumstance," Billy continues diplomatically, like a chief would.
Jacob looks over at me and cocks an eyebrow. He then raises his hand and tells his father, "Sure, what do you want to know?"
"So, you and my son…" Billy begins, looking at me directly. I immediately take a deep breath and sit taller in the wooden chair.
"Yes?" I prompt, purposely ignoring the way Sam shifts uncomfortably in his seat. If he and Jacob make it through this meeting without ripping each other's throats out, I'll be surprised. I can still feel the restlessness of both wolves.
"How did this happen?"
Oh. I clear my throat, wondering where to begin. I guess there's only one place. "Well, Jacob came back from Spain and came to see me, and…well," God, how do I say that we talked and laughed and then when it was time for him to leave, we jumped each other like horny dogs? "And I guess, we just felt a need to be together…in an intimate way."
"So it was purely physical?"
"What? No!" Jacob immediately interrupts, but I place my hand on his shoulder and press down. He grunts and sits back in the chair, folding his arms across his chest.
Old Quil and Feather Rock share a smile and look at me encouragingly which helps me feel confident. It seems I have two allies in all of this besides Mom.
"Yes, it was. In the beginning it was all physical, I won't deny. Though Jake and I were partners and friends before he left to travel, it had never been intimate."
"But was the physical attraction more like a compulsion, would you say?" Old Quil asks.
"What kind of question is that!" Jacob growls in protest. "Come on, does all of this really have to go into the records? This is personal!"
The question surprises and causes me to frown. I hadn't really thought about it, but maybe it was. I had tried to ignore the sudden attraction I felt, the intense need for him to fuck me hard - to take me, to claim me. I just needed him and any thought of his imprint – which would have definitely stopped the rational version of myself – was far from my consideration because his scent had fogged up my brain. "Yeah, I guess you could say I was compelled. His scent was very…delicious. It was a very strong desire. Nothing else mattered but fulfilling that need."
Sam visibly cringes and rubs his hand over his face in agitation.
I feel so weird, violated even, being questioned about my sex life in front of my mother, ex and future father-in-law. My mother looks up at me for a split second, pausing as she hurries to transcribe. With a slight nod from her, I am reminded that I'm not alone, that I'm strong and I can do this.
"Don't feel bothered by our questions, Leah. I am trying to show Billy here that neither you nor Jacob are in violation of any laws."
"How?" Jake and I both ask.
Billy shakes his head and takes a sip of coffee, allowing Old Quil to explain himself.
"You are the only female in the pack Leah. You possess strong influence over your brothers – even the Alphas. With a snap of your fingers you bring them to heel, as we just witnessed."
"Now just hold on a minute!" Sam interjects. I know his ego would never allow anyone to imply that I had pulled rank on him.
Feather Rock holds up his palm to stop him. "You often fill in for Jacob, and the pack submits to you. Why do you think that is, Leah?"
I shrug, "Because I'm bossy and mean? I dunno, I'm Beta."
"Yes, exactly," Sam agrees forcefully, as if my answer should be the end of the speculation. Jacob snarls but I squeeze his arm to keep him at bay, throwing daggers at Sam myself.
Billy grunts while Feather Rock and Old Quil chuckle. "I know you have a very strong personality, my dear, but that's not what I am getting at. Billy does not quite agree with me on my theory, but I think that you are the Alpha Female, Leah, not merely a Beta. You are the first and only female. In the wild, that makes you equal to the True Alpha Male, and that makes you his natural mate."
My eyebrows raise in surprise. "Alpha?" Me? I mean, the concept isn't a new thought – even Mom had said as much last night, but I had just brushed it off as her over embellishing her point.
"This is ridiculous! You're grasping at straws! This is just an excuse for Jacob's actions!" Sam protests, waving his hand around.
"Excuse me?" Jake hisses, leaning forward in his seat.
Peter grunts in agreement. "Yes, let's deal with the facts."
Billy exhales in frustration. "Settle down!" He regards the three men with an air of authority, daring them to disobey before turning to me. "This is all Old Quil's theory. There is nothing in our tribe that we can support this with, and you are certainly not a gray wolf, you are a human woman."
"Well I agree, totally. Lee is one of the strongest wolves, she's protective of her bothers, and of me. I've known her as my equal for quite some time now. She does have control over me, I have no problem admitting that. She's shown how strong she is over the years, in my absence and my dealings with the Cullens when they were in Forks." Jake reaches for me to give me a reassuring squeeze and I smile back.
"But what really are you getting at here?" I turn back to Old Quil, because I'm still uncomfortable, especially with Sam and Peter there frowning at me like two red-faced fools.
"We are merely trying to understand the connection between you and Jacob," Old Quil clarifies.
"Our wolves are bonded," Jacob answers bluntly, as if that's the simplest answer they can expect to receive.
"Bonded, how exactly?" Peter asks.
Jacob and I look at each other and I shrug. "I marked Leah. She's my mate for life."
"WHAT?" Sam jumps up out of his seat.
"Is there a problem, Sammy?" Jacobs asks with a sneer.
"Is that true Leah?" Sue asks, her eyes wide.
"Yes, it is." I look at all of the shocked faces before me, in turn. "Jake's wolf cares for his imprint in a familial type of way. But I'm his true mate." I declare, pushing my shirt aside so they could see the crescent marks on my neck.
"Yes!" Old Quil says excitedly. "You see? This just proves my point even more. And I think you were in heat, Leah. Which would explain why when Jacob saw you, he desired to take you to bed – in spite of the imprint – because you are an Alpha Pair like it is in the wild."
"What?" I squeak. "I'm not an animal! I mean, I'm not a real wolf-"
"Seriously?" Jacob cries, scandalized. "She's not a dog!"
Sam scoffs and stands, "I'm sorry Council, but I need to take a short break. I'll be back."
He doesn't wait to be dismissed, instead charging out of the room, his fingers deftly unbuttoning his neatly pressed navy shirt. The familiar sound of the phase sounds in the distance, but only Jacob and I would have heard it. Whoever's on patrol is going to get a head-full of my sex life.
"We know you're not Leah, and I'm sorry that there is no nicer way to put it, but is it possible that your wolfish side behaved like it's counterpart in the wild? We know that you have stopped your moons since the first phase. What else could provide an explanation for your sudden ovulation – and Jacob's reaction to it?"
"Is that how you felt Jacob? Were you suddenly drawn to her as if she were 'in heat?' From your wolf's point of view, was that the feeling?" Billy asks, his feelings on the matter made clear in the constant, frown on his weathered face.
I snort. "Because it's impossible that he could have any true feelings for me, right?"
"No, that's not what I am getting at Leah - but you two did not have any form of intimacy before. This all came out of the blue, that's what you said, correct?"
"Yes," I reluctantly answer.
Even I have to admit that we didn't. Yeah, we might have flirted on rare occasion, and I wasn't blind to his body, but we'd never crossed the line where it became inappropriate. We were just friends before he left, and it had taken us years to build that friendship.
"So Jacob, tell us more about your reaction that first time you saw her after Spain?" Billy continues, taking his own notes, while Mom frantically tries to get it all down. I take out my phone and set it to record, so that she would have back-up.
Jacob shakes his head with a gesture around the room. "When I went to her house, I just, was overwhelmed, I guess. She was beautiful and different. I wanted her. I just…couldn't think about anything but her. It was like having tunnel vision. There wasn't any reasoning on my part. I just went for it and she accepted my advances."
I take another deep breath to steady my nerves, then it occurs me. "Wait, the last time we were together before I left La Push, you said that I was 'ripe.' You said I was sexy and beguiling without trying, and you expected Sam to pick up on it. You meant my scent, that it was really appealing to you."
"Yeah, oh yeah, definitely." Jacob agrees with a chuckle. "I guess it all makes sense then, your pheromones were strong and I couldn't resist. My head was just filled with you and your scent."
Old Quil sits back with a satisfied smile, which only fuels Billy's disapproval with the conversation.
"And with Sam, did you ever have this with him?" Feather Rock asks.
"No, never." I shake my head vigorously. Too many things happened, totally damaging to our relationship, for me to even consider letting Sam dip his pinky toe in my cookie jar again. My wolf was also distinctly not a fan of his, there was no chance with her either.
"And did you ever feel this way with your imprint?" he asks Jacob next.
"No, she's like family. I don't care for her sexually. We both explained that last night in front of the Chief and Secretary-Treasurer, and I hope the Council will accept that the matter of me being with my imprint is closed, permanently."
I bite my lip, wanting to explain the reason for his lack of interest, but giving them that detail is not my place. Nessie has to tell Jacob first before the Council is informed, her infertility definitely must go on record – even if it proves that I was only the runner up to be the Alpha's mate or his woman.
Old Quil looks over at Billy triumphantly. "See? The True Alpha Pair. The imprint is not the same as with the others."
"Sam is still the better leader, no matter all this wolf stuff," Peter asserts angrily. "This boy has done nothing but run away from his sacred duty to this tribe!"
Jacob stands then, and I follow, gripping the sleeve of his white t-shirt anxiously. "I know that!" he growls at Peter. "I'm not here to step on Golden Boy's toes. I'm just here to take my place too. We can share duties within the tribe, but the Alpha position is mine."
"That's commendable of you to say Jacob. This Council has been waiting on you to grow a pair for years. But this feels like too little too late," Peter responds smugly, his stance in his seat showing that he would never respect Jacob as his authority. I guess being our teacher years ago made him feel some sense of entitlement to all the Res kids showing him deference. He was Sam's favorite teacher in school, so I'm not surprised to see how friendly they've become as cohorts.
"My son will always have a place here, he is the future of the Black line, Peter," Billy hisses from his wheelchair, and in that moment I can't help but think how much Jacob is just like him.
"What exactly do you think 'your place' is here, Jacob? What will you bring to the tribe now that you have returned?" Peter demands. Sue looks up from writing, fixing her stare on my wolf too, expressing her desire to hear his answer as well.
"I honestly don't know. I'm not good with the idea of leading other people's lives. It's always been an issue for me, becoming a wolf at sixteen and having to consider that my friends and family could die if I failed to make the right choices."
My eyes burn as I can feel the pain in his words. The Council thinks they know, but they don't know what our lives were like in those early days, facing down vampires in battle. The men grimace and look at one another from the corners of their eyes. Had they prepared the boys when they saw the signs, instead of leaving them to phase without warning, Jacob would have been more receptive to the idea of being a leader. That was their mistake, not his fault.
"But Leah reminded me that I don't have to see this as leading, I want to help. I just want to use what I know to help our community be stronger, better. I want to play a bigger role at the Tribal School and with the move."
"The School?" Billy and Peter both ask, surprised.
I smile, a well of fondness for my lover pooling in the pit of my stomach. That he had actually listened to me last night, and agreed with me, that he took my counsel, it feels really good, like we are truly a team.
"Yeah - I can teach autoshop, carving, run Gym, swimming, self-defense classes, keep an eye on the younger ones who are coming up, prepare them all for whatever challenges our tribe could face. It's not just the Cold Ones, it's our issues with poverty, depression and fear for living so close to these waters. I just think that these kids need someone to prepare them for the hardships of life, teach them how to be good members of the tribe who can preserve our traditions and our land. It's what being a wolf has taught me. I want to do that, be their mentor, as Alpha of the tribe, not just the pack. It's MY job, more than anyone else's."
"You wish to change the curriculum?" Peter demands, affronted.
Jacob scoffs, "It can be extra-curricular, Peter, come on, we can work on that. I'm not trying to be principal, but you asked me a question, and you will hear my answer. My place here in this tribe is Protect and Strengthen, that's what I came here to say to you all. I'm ready for this."
A moment of silence descends on the group as they all watch Jacob closely, assessing his sincerity.
"He'll do a wonderful job, I'm sure of it," I add, my throat a little dry from my nervous, heavy breathing. I reach over and select one of Emily's donuts, eating it quickly to calm my jitters.
"I for one think it's an excellent plan, and I commend you Jacob, on coming up with a solution that will allow both you and Sam to have a place here in the Council." My mother smiles at him and nods her head, looking over at his father. "Billy? What say you? Quil? Feather? Jacob can join our social programs for the youth, and work with the pack on community re-enhancement projects.'"
"We have to wait for Sam to give his opinion," Peter interjects.
"I'm here," Sam calls out from the doorway where he suddenly appears, disheveled and grim.
The elders recap Jacob's proposal and Sam purses his lip, staring Jacob hard in the eye, before nodding his head. "Sounds fine. But there's no dropping out, there's no running off. If you do this, it's for life. And you accept that there are rules and ways that we do things."
"I know THAT Sam!" Jacob snarls, his eyes turning amber as the Alpha resents Sam's display of authority.
"Jacob!" I tug roughly on his sleeve, bringing him back to himself.
Jacob exhales loudly and closes his eyes, nodding slowly. I clamp my arm across his waist, and he wraps his arm around my shoulders.
"You two have got to settle this once and for all!" I scowl at Sam. "This can't go on! Or someone will get seriously hurt!"
"I know," Sam admits, looking between myself and Jacob.
"So you're going to step down as Alpha?" Old Quil asks.
Sam visibly stiffens at the request slash suggestion. "Jacob and I will deal with that in private. It's a pack decision, not Council."
The old men huff in annoyance at Sam's tone, but both Jacob and I agree.
"He's right. Sam and I need to do this alone." Jacob turns to the Council and straightens himself. I drop my arm and step away, giving him some room to speak. "But I want to make it clear in front of everyone, that when I left for Paris, I never renounced my place here as Chief and Alpha. My father might have chosen to disown me and ban me from my homeland, but the wolf won't accept it. So I intend to stay, and I intend to follow my heart. I have given you all my word, this day, in front of my ancestors and unborn child." Jacob reaches over and places his palm on my stomach, briefly smiling at me before pulling back again.
Billy sputters, looking around at everyone. "Ban you? Look, Jacob, I know it was harsh of me to say that I disowned you. It is my biggest regret, as a parent who has had one child care for him so dutifully for all these years. I really didn't mean it."
Jacob visibly softens at his father's admission, while Sam shifts uneasily on his feet. He's aura is a mixture of ire and discomfort, and I narrow my eyes at him.
"It was a hasty act," Old Quil grumbles, and my mother shoots him a silencing scowl.
Billy rolls his eyes and continues, "But I could never ban you from these lands Jacob. You are my only son, you are the only one who can stand in my place when I am gone. I can't jeopardize that. I've always wanted you here son, and I know I drove you away. But I want you to stay, for good."
"But you've been pushing Sam up for everything. And Sam said you banned me, if I didn't agree to be with my imprint and take up my duties here," Jacob argues.
Billy, his eyes wide with disbelief, looks at Sam, who only rolls his eyes and shakes his head.
"It needed to be done. Jacob needed a kick in the ass, to realize that there were consequences to his actions."
"That was not your place, Samuel!" Billy reprimands loudly.
"It isn't MY place? Billy, this has gone on long enough! By law I AM the Chief and I AM the Alpha. I AM the one who makes the decisions. I've tried to play nice, and I've let you keep your place as the figurehead of the tribe but this is MY RIGHT. I've earned it and it's about time I get a little respect from this Council!"
"You have no right, Uley!" Jacob yells, with a warning growl to punctuate how much of a fight he's ready to give.
"What the fuck Sam!" I hiss.
The elders all start to quarrel at once, some with outrage, and some not denying that Sam technically is right.
"So you lied to me so that you could take my birthright. It's probably why my wolf needed to come back too, it sensed what you were trying to do." Jacob states, his fists clenched.
"You had your chance to take your birthright multiple times, and you always chose Bella and then her child. I did what was right at the time, the pack needed to be unified."
The tension is so thick in the air that you could slice it with a knife.
"Oh and how did that work for ya, huh? Did you tell the Council that Embry and Seth won't join the pack mind? You're not the Alpha Sam, and you're not the Chief! No matter what they think!"
"I never forced them to join the pack fully! I COULD have! But I chose to give them time," Sama argues for the sake of his battered ego. I roll my eyes and shake my head. He's such a…I don't know what.
"Sam you have done so much good things for this tribe and pack, but I don't know how you expect me to overlook this," Billy informs his "other son" gravely and it only pisses off Jacob more.
"See Dad? For once you could have trusted me. All I wanted was your blessing. But no, I'm constantly being measured against Sam, a man who would do WHATEVER it takes to be Chief and Alpha."
"And I'm sorry Jacob. I didn't know what Sam was trying to do."
"Oh Billy don't sit there and lie! You relied on me, you basically MADE me your replacement son! You wanted me to do everything that Jacob wouldn't! I'm the one you could rely on. Now you're just going to dismiss that? I've done everything you asked and more!"
That's when it occurs to me that Sam found a father in Billy in some way. And he truly wanted to be his favored son. Shit. I almost feel sorry for him.
"Billy, Jacob's irresponsible, how many times will you let him disappoint you! Sam has never let you down! He's proven himself to be a good Alpha, and a good Chief," Peter challenges.
"A good chief?" Billy cries. "I AM the Chief!"
"But Sam's right, it's law isn't it? The Alpha is also the Chief of the tribe, Billy," Peter hedges.
"You've tried to ignore the obvious, but I have proven myself worthy to carry both titles for many years. When I run for office, I will be able to do even more for this community. I will bring about good changes, that we all can prosper from."
"You are not the chief Sam, not while I'm alive," Jacob warns, stepping closer to Sam. The dominance of his wolf causes his form to shimmer, and it literally feels as though Jacob's caged in a ball of fire.
"HA!" Sam exclaims in Jacob's face, causing me to startle. "I've done so much for you! I carried ALL of the burden, because you were too chicken shit to be a man! Now you want me to believe that I didn't EARN this? You want to talk about the kind of man I AM? You wanna talk about trust and support? Where was yours? Huh? Your loyalty was never to any of us, it was to Bella and her spawn!"
Jacob growls and pushes Sam backwards, causing him to stumble into the wall. "It was to everyone!" Jacob yells.
"You put this entire pack in danger, twice! You brought us to fight for Bella and your imprint! We came to support you, because we knew you couldn't live without either of them! When all the while, you had your escape route planned if the vampires wanted a war! You're not loyal, you're not a True Alpha at all!"
"I had no idea that Bella had planned that Sam! I was just as shocked as everyone else when she showed me the passports."
"You agreed to it! You think you can always just run off and leave me here to keep house like I'm the fucking butler!"
I'd always hated the fact that Bella had just assumed that Jacob would pick up and leave his entire tribe and father, and run off to protect her daughter. But then I remembered that he'd already done that when Bella was pregnant, so in truth it wasn't a hard sell. Jacob was in full on protector mode that day, he would have left us without a second glance. Jacob would have left Sam to keep carrying the burden of the pack. But unlike Sam, I always felt sorry for him, rather than resentment.
"Sam, come on, I didn't have time to think! The Volturi came and all I could do was stand by Nessie's side, she was just a little girl! I couldn't let those monsters kill her for being born! She needed my protection until she could handle herself."
Sam shrinks back and snorts, shaking his head. "I was one of those monsters, right?"
"If the shoe fits. You wanted her dead, and that was reason enough for me to leave you and protect Bella."
"I did what was right. They are not our concern. You should never have left your lands, they made you forget yourself, your birthright."
"That's Charlie's family. I grew up with that man always being by my father's side, I was not about to turn my back on them. That's what family does!"
"Alright alright!" Billy slams the gavel down on the coffee table, leaving a sizeable dent. His bulging eyes glare at both Alphas, who are chest to chest in the small, cramped living room, heating it up with their tempers. "That's quite enough you two! The past is in the past! You have got to forgive each other for your mistakes! You were both doing what you thought was right! And neither of you are to blame for anything that happened."
I bow my head, feeling just as chastened as a little child would if he heard the roar of Billy Black. His words are truth. Their argument is telling of that. They both feel betrayed by the other, they both want to prove themselves as Billy's successor too. The only thing that can solve this is forgiveness and a truce. Not a fight, not a vote.
"I think that if either of you want to remain on this Council, you will squash this feud, just as Billy says," Feather Rock cautions, with a single nod of his droopy red face. "This is not balance, this is not harmony. This is not The Way."
Sue, Old Quil and even Peter nod in agreement also.
"It's time for there to be peace amongst us all."
Jacob and Sam continue to stare one another down, but the quiet rumbles in their chests indicate that their wolves would rather grapple for dominance outside.
"Please," I plead, moving myself to stand between them. Boldly, but with a deep breath, I reach up and tentatively place one palm on Jacob's chest, and the other on Sam's. Jacob bristles but I push him back. "Listen to me!" I command, and he stills, as does Sam.
I close my eyes for a moment and gather all the strength I can while being bombarded on either side, by their wolves struggling for the upper hand. I feel compelled to be the one to try to settle this once and for all.
"I…have…loved you both in my life." I whisper, so that the old heads can't hear. "I have given myself to you both. I have felt the greatest love apart from my family, from both of you. If either of you truly ever loved me, Jacob…and Sam, then you'll make peace. You'll forgive each other and let the past stay in the past. There is no more competition between the two of you. We are Quileute, we are One. We live and work together."
I regard both of their faces, jaws set in defiance, eyes ablaze with indignance. I don't know if they'll do it for me, if I'm enough, but it was worth a shot.
"I don't want to fight you, Sam." Jacob reveals to the room. "If I do, my wolf will kill you. I'm sure of it. There will be nothing I can do to stop it." A chorus of gasps fills the room. I move one palm to the elders, asking them to stay out of it. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Sam's face is unreadable, save for the flash of emotions that pass over his glowing eyes. Fear. Defiance. He knows, he knows that Jacob is telling the truth. He can feel it just like I can. Jacob's wolf is not here to play. This is Sam's final chance to accept the olive branch, or Jacob would be forced to do something that he could never take back.
"I understand," Sam states plainly, without a trace of emotion on his face. The golden hue in his eyes fades to black. I know this expression well, he wears it when he's mentally schooling himself to maintain control. He's saving face with indifference.
"And?" Jacob prompts, his wolf already pulling the reins on Sam's fealty. My wolf, long awakened and alerted by the presence of two Alpha males so close to her pup, forces me to bare my neck in submission too.
Then it gets even weirder. The energy of the Spirit Wolves seems to hum around the three of us, and a tingling warmth caresses my pelvic region, causing me to grasp my stomach in surprise.
"What is it?" Jacob demands.
"Something warm touched my stomach. I feel this energy around us."
Jacob reaches out to me instinctively, covering my hands with his. Sam stares at my stomach, his eyes wide, before the elders interrupt us with their murmurings and questions.
"The Alpha Female is fine. She feels the Spirit Warriors," Feather Rock witnesses to the room, his loud voice serious and foreboding. "Ephraim's Heir pulls Levi's in an old familiar dance of wolves past. Taha Aki embraces each and every one of his sons and his daughter, and calls for peace, now." Our shaman points the feather staff at Jacob, Sam, then me, and strikes the vinyl floor three times, in proclamation.
Sam turns to Jacob and me, and bows his head in submission, baring his neck, his hands crossed at his groin. "I release my position as Alpha to the Heir of Ephraim and to the Alpha Female, carrying the future Alpha in her womb."
I cover my mouth at Sam's words. I had not realized until that moment, that it had been confirmed that the child in my womb is a son, a future Spirit Warrior like his father. The next Alpha. Heat swells in my eyes and I'm suddenly filled with all the pride and joy only a mother could feel.
Jacob holds my hand and clasps Sam's shoulder with the other, causing Sam to look up and meet his glowing eyes. "I accept you as my brother. I shall live with my brother in peace." Jacob responds in Quileute, but his cadence is unlike his own. His voice is deeper, almost alien. As the air continues to thicken with the pulse of the Spirit Wolves. By instinct, I realize that the wolf in him is not just his own, it is THE Alpha, ALL Alphas, as one voice and power.
The force vibrating around us seems to increase for a few seconds before it completely vanishes, causing Sam to cry out and drop to his knees while Jacob stumbles a few steps away from us.
Sam doubles over, gasping for breath as he clutches his mid-section. "What, what did you do to me?" he demands breathlessly, his eyes accusingly narrowed on Jake.
Jacob wipes the sweat away from his face with his t-shirt and shakes his head. "I don't know. I just felt like, the wolf, it was just…it was in control of me."
"What do you think happened, Sam?" Old Quil asks, as he and the other elders stand and move closer to inspect the three of us. Mom reaches for me and pulls me into her arms. I let her hold me and I try to wrap my head around what I just saw and felt.
"My wolf, he…he took it from me."
At the same time we all seem to gasp in shock at the revelation, a chorus of howls rips through the air outside, and I immediately know that the pack is coming.
AN: So this is it, the big chapter, no physical fighting between Alphas, but now the matter is settled. It was a long one! But I hope it didn't disappoint. Up next we her form Jacob as he faces the pack.