Chapter 37: Alpha Jacob Part 2
Jacob turned to Paul and snarled at him. Paul was on his knees as the three long gashes on the chest was slowly being closed. It was no longer bleeding, but it was still an angry, red pinkish open wound. Paul tried to partially phase, but he winced in pain due to the open wound. Jacob growled loudly bellow him with Paul still hanging his head bearing his submission, but he was side eyeing menacingly at Jacob while growling back at Jacob too.
Jacob roughly grabbed him from the chin to face toward him, and he roared, "Are you going to challenge me, Paul?"
Paul said through gritted teeth, "No.." and he shrugged off Jacob's grip on his chin.
Then, Jacob went off on him. He roared, "You deliberately ignored your mate for the sake of following your pack brother Sam. Was Sam more important than your own goddamn mate who is pregnant with your pups? Is she carrying your pups not enough indication that she is loyal, trustworthy with a good heart? And yet you still doubt her words of wisdom?"
Jacob continued roaring, "this is not the first time that you doubted her. Oh yes, Paul , I do know. You forcibly claimed her the first time because you doubted her in pretense that its for her 'own good' when in reality you don't trust your mate, so you have her monitored through the mate bond. That is some controlling shit that I don't put with from no one from the pack for my pack sister and especially for the honorable peacemaker. I ..admit I was passive-aggressive, controlling , manipulative ass myself. I accept and take full responsibility of my actions, but I am making effort to do better, .. you Paul in other hand. It seems like you aren't getting it. The first claim almost cost you and your life. Now, you claimed her again while pregnant, and it almost cost her and your pups' lives."
Paul growled lowly, "I did it for the pups' sake..to get stronger so that if something happened to me today, they be okay without me."
Jacob snarled, "That is just crap. You didn't do it for the pups. You did it for yourself, you selfish ass to make yourself feel better for leaving behind a broken-hearted pregnant mate to a war that she did not agree on. You don't even know what you just did, and the fact that you still did it without even really knowing what you were doing, you disrespected the nature of the fertility claim."
I was now looking curiously at Jacob. I said, "Was it all for Paul to make himself better for leaving me behind? Even though he didn't know better, at the time that he did it, I felt his earnestness and sincerity through our bond that did it for the pups' sake. ..But, Yes…to see him leave with Sam, it hurt me a lot emotionally and . the build up to the fertility claim..it was..rough."
I didn't know how else to explain of Paul's forceful desire to dominate me through sex, but I didn't want to sound like I was raped either. It was still lowkey consensual.
Then Jacob immediately grabbed Paul on the shoulder, his hand became claws, and it broke through Paul's skin. I heard a wet glushing sound as Jacob's claws were piercing through Paul's shoulder and it was dripping blood all over Paul's chest and back. Paul groaned in pain, as Jacob roared, "Is your ego so insecure that you gotta forcibly show your dominance through sex to your own fucking mate? Does that make you man now Paul? Huh?"
Paul didn't respond and seeing that he wasn't saying anything, Jacob turned to me. Jacob, barely containing his rage, he growled lowly, "Did he force himself on you? Is that how you got the fertility claim?"
I said quickly, hand motioning Jacob, "No! He...He..didnt rape me if that is what you were thinking, but…he was rough up until the last few minutes before the fertility claim…because he said that I was disrespect his wolf in front of other when I was trying to convince him and the pack to not attack the Cullens.. but the fertility claim was consensual. I gave him my consent before he gave bite me.." While I was speaking, Jacob growling got even louding and holding onto Paul's shoulder a little more tighter. "..but..I..I forgive him, Jake."
Jacob stopped growling and paused. It felt awkward that Jacob was getting in between me and Paul. I know that Jacob is just looking out for me as a heavily pregnant wolf sister and the peacemaker, but it feels like this is something that me and Paul need to deal with on our own without the Alpha stepping in. If it gets even more serious, then Jacob can step in, but I doubt it'll ever get to that extent. I..don't really harbor any negative feelings toward Paul of what he did. It hurts a little, and it was little lowkey scary when he was rough with me through sex and I had to give him a blowjob as punishment, but I don't hate him. I forgive him, but it doesn't mean I would be willing to have sex with Paul anytime soon. He needs to work for that.
I could tell he was trying to sense whether I was just saying that to stop Jacob from reprimanding Paul because I couldn't handle it like it was too bloody for me too or I actually do forgive him and the reprimanding that Jacob did was enough. I felt Paul's reprimanding was enough. If anything, Sam should've been more ruffled up, but I could see why Jacob ruffled Paul more. Paul should've been on my side no matter what due to our mating bond even if he was influenced by other things. He looked deep into my eyes with his bright silver eyes, trying to fish out anything from what I had just said. Seeing that I was being honest, he finally let go of Paul's shoulder and his hand shifted back into a regular hand.
Suddenly, I felt few protruding kicks in my belly from my babies' feet and it made the baby-making blanket that was wrapped around my pregnant belly to slip a little before I went to catch it. At that moment, I knew my babies wanted me to forgive their papa, and Jacob noticed it too. He watched me as I was caressing my belly with my hand, trying to calm them down. He gave another calculative look to my heavily pregnant belly and up to me before going back to look at Paul.
When I looked at Paul, Paul's head was hung even lower, and I saw drips of tears falling to the ground. I felt his emotions of gratitude, thankfulness, love, and shame through our bond. I knew then, Paul that I come to know and love these past few weeks has finally returned to me. He was slowly getting pulled out from Meyer's magic the more Jacob reprimanded him and the pack for their recent behavior, but this was the last thing needed for him to finally be out from Meyer's influence.
Jacob growled threateningly, "the peacemaker and your mate has spoken. Be good to her and if you harm her again in any way or be rough on her without her desiring it, she'll immediately be under my custody as her alpha. Do you understand, Paul?"
Paul nodded, "Yes , Alpha."
Jacob continued, "Let me give you a little education on the fertility claim, Paul because thank the spirits, they taught me that while I was in my spirit walk. The fertility claim is a claim that you give to your pregnant imprint/mate to ensure that the mother would be able to carry the baby with the shapeshifting gene to full term. Some mothers have a weaker uterus, so this claim is to help the mother to not die during childbirth. Even though as the peacemaker she is already blessed with fertility and she has the physique to carry the pups well, the pups were already being carried quickly in a wolf-like pregnancy due to the circumstances of how they were conceived. So instead of giving strength to the mother through the fertility claim, the blessing of fertility backfired. It caused the pups developed much more quickly and it put her body on an overdrive, so her body couldn't adjust to the changes. Thus, it left her drained and very weak after the fertility claim. It was truly because she was already given the blessing by the spirits that she didn't lose the pups or die."
Ohh..so that is what happened.
Paul finally spoke, "But..Old Quil..he told me that the fertility claim will give my mate strength like mines to help her carry through the pregnancy."
Ohh, so that was what Paul and Old Quil were discussing about at the bonfire two weeks ago. Now, it all makes sense.
Jacob sneered, "Yes, but did you confirm with the spirits first before performing the claim? Did you consider the circumstances before performing the claim? No, you only listened to Old Quil without checking. Thus, you have disrespected the nature and magic of the fertility claim."
Paul replied now being a little humble and not as defiant like earlier, "I'm sorry, Alpha..I'll should consult with the spirits in anything related to sacred customs, traditions instead of relying fully on the elders and records."
Jacob nodded stiffly. He gave a sigh and said, "Go back inside and recover. Take care of your mate. I'll carry her back inside."
Paul replied, "Thank you, Alpha."
He winced as he slowly got up and staggered back inside to the house first. The only one's left was Billy, Old Quil, Sue, Leah, and Seth. Everyone else went back home.
Jacob then turned look straight ahead and locked eyes with Leah. Both of their eyes light up in silver and said at the same time, "Mate".
I heard the elders gasped in shock. Leah froze and she looked like a deer at headlights as Jacob walked cautiously toward her. The more Leah started comprehending that she is the alpha female , the mate of the rightful alpha as Jacob was walking toward her, the more fear and rage was appearing her expression. There was a hint of love from the imprinting, but it was getting overshadowed by her anger and pain. She even started crying angrily as she was trembling with Jacob was towering over her. He slowly raised his hand to touch her face, she didn't shy away from his touch, but she was still crying angrily with her hurtful eyes flashing silver.
She said through gritted teeth, "Why? Why now?"
Jacob looked at her sadly and said, "I..have no words to explain how sorry I am..because I wasn't accepting the Alpha role, I was also not accepting you as well.."
She said, it seemed like it was her wolf spirit talking, "you made me wait for so long, Alpha..that I almost gave permission to Leah to let us go.. Don't you know how much my human and I suffered being under a temporary alpha without our mate and have to wait for you to come around? How..How can I..we trust you?"
Jacob with a sorrowful expression said, "I know..I can't undo the past, but I am here now to make things right again.. Despite of the fact that I avoided my role as alpha and your mate for so long, the spirits still blessed me, trusted me to still imprint you. You can trust that my she wolf...but I know you Leah are hurt and hold a lot of resentments toward the spirits.. You don't have to jump in this with me right now, but I think its time for you to go on a spirit walk.. Harry's waiting on the other side for you, Leah. Go talk to him and come back for tonight's meeting."
He didn't alpha order her thankfully, but he did give his suggestion to her. Leah turned her head away from Jacob's touch, looked down with her fists clenching tightly at her sides, and then she turned to look at me. When she looked at me, I knew she was looking confirmation because sadly, she trusts me the most out of everyone around her even more than Jacob her Alpha and mate at the moment. She's confused, lost, hurting, and unsure what to do whether she should be happy or furious, so I said reassuringly, "it's okay Leah. Go talk to your dad."
Leah's eyes widen slightly in hope before she ran toward the forest, phased and howled mournfully. Sue had her hand in her mouth as she was sobbing lightly, and Seth was hugging her, giving her comfort. Jacob walked back toward me, and gently picked me up. As we walked back to the house, I asked, "So, how are you doing Jacob?"
He chuckled lowly, "I should be asking you that. I know that..I was pretty intense, but I am okay. I was expecting a worser response from Leah to be honest. I thought she would try to sink her teeth in me, but I think ..she is in a better place because she had you while I was gone.."
I said, "Oh. I think you were the right amount of intense. In fact, I think you did very well. You made them feel responsible of their actions, setting standards to pull their act together, being honest even brutally to get them out of Meyer's magic, and you displayed consequences through the act of slashing them in the chest. ..And Yeah, I thought she would try to bite your tail off when she realized she became a shapeshifter to be the mate of the rightful alpha. As in for me, I am okay. I feel much stronger than yesterday after the fertility claim."
Jacob hummed then sniffed me and said, "You smell better too, but to make sure, I can get Sue to check on you."
I nodded and Jacob gently laid me down on the sofa. Paul sat down next to me, and he had bandages across his chest, most likely placed by Sue with shorts on.
I told Jacob, "Thanks, Jake."
He winked at me before turning around and saying to Billy and Old Quil, "Let's go to my house and talk."
They both nodded and left the house. Sue was checking my vitals, and she said with a surprised tone, "You're pretty much recovered. I was expecting to take care of you for another day or two, but you're fine now. Come by at the end of the week for your weekly appointments. We have to see whether you are still growing at the same rate or it had increase from the fertility claim."
I nodded, and then she turned to Paul. She said firmly, "Take care of her. She needs more help now that she is further long in her pregnancy and she is eating for three as well. I expect her in good shape by our upcoming appointment, if not then you'll be getting an earful from me."
Paul nodded as Sue left.
Now it is just me and Paul.
Author's Note:
Leah is coming back. She needs to heal and make peace with the spirits before proceeding her relationship with Jacob and becoming Alpha female. It wont be good for her to become Alpha female if she still has anger toward the spirits and becoming a shapeshifter. I'm the type that rather work on yourself as much as you can before getting involved in a relationship, so I want both of them to be a stronger mindset before getting together especially when they gonna be the Alpha couple.
How was Paul's reprimand? Too much? Just enough?
I'll send out a chapter later on today or early morning tomorrow. It is a bit of fluff, then the chapter with Jacob talking to everyone in the meeting would be split into parts as well.
I made a poll of what story I should do after I finish this one, please vote! Thanks
As always, reviews are very much appreciated.!