CHAPTER THIRTY

(JPOV)

I tore through the forest with a rush of consuming thoughts, some of them of the present, but most of them flooding in from the possible future. Visions of what could happen in Masons near future was enough to make my running pace falter some, causing me to lose focus. I ran full tilt toward Gentry's, my mind so clouded that I missed the approaching roadway marker by several feet and was soon landing on all fours in front of a fully loaded log truck. The blaring horn sounded as I flew over the hood of it and submerged myself back into the dense tree cover. Screeching tires on the asphalt faded away from me in the distance while I refocused, and picked up my speed until I broke free into the clearing of Gentry's back yard.

He was there, just inside with Leah, his head swiftly turning in my direction when he heard my fast approach.

"Jake?"

I huffed furiously at him and he came running, his immediate phase shredding his clothes in mid-air as he morphed into the giant grizzly and drew up on his back legs. His thoughts were loud and clear when they reached me.

"What's going on?"

"I know I gave you temporary rank, but I'm hoping you'll give me enough reign today to call a meeting? It's urgent." I huffed his way.

"Of course. Pack is still yours, bro. Do as you see fit. Tell me what's going on?"

"Bella got a letter from The Cullens. They're coming back to Forks, Gentry. Soon."

A growl left him as he moved forward and met my intense glare.

"What? When? Are you sure?"

"The letter said so. Edward left it at the station for Charlie to give her." I informed.

"What else did it say?" Gentry hedged.

"That they were all returning. Something about it being a warranted trip to Washington. That they didn't want to cause trouble."

"...and you believe this?"

"No, not fully. Just doesn't make sense. Them coming back here like this all of a sudden after being gone for more than a decade. Gentry, think about it, we haven't so much as seen a group of more than two nomads passing through in months now. It's been quiet. Settled even." I pointed out.

"Yeah, maybe too quiet?" Gentry huffed back in return. "Something's off. I agree."

"If they are coming back here to warn us of something we don't see coming, then they wouldn't have intentions to stay, but should that change, nothing we put stalk in for the years to come will hold. It will change everything. For the pack, for the kids, for us." My thoughts trailed off with this, and Gentry lowered his massive head in response as he read it all there.

"Mason...-"

"Yeah, just like with Brenner." I dreadfully replied. "We didn't hold it off long for him- remember?"

"I do and that threat was one."

"Not seven." I sharply countered.

"Even if this isn't a threat-" Gentry began.

"That doesn't matter. The fever will still set in. Their close proximity will set it in motion, if nothing else and much sooner than we want it to."

My thoughts to him were desperate and he could sense it.

"What if you and I cut them off at the border? Before the rest of them can get here? Edward's already made his presence known in town, but we can still get ahead of the others. We can intercept their path before they get too close. Wouldn't that work better?" He questioned.

"It's possible, but that depends on why they're coming back here in the first place. We can't intercept something that could be to our aid if they're coming with a warning. That would only hurt us in the end." I countered.

Sudden movement from the left of us caught our attention and Seth's thoughts were quick to link with our own, as he phased in and made his presence known in Gentry's backyard.

"Hey- sorry to interrupt-" He offered.

"No, you're fine, bro. Glad you're here actually." Gentry told him. "Leah is just finishing up with lunch. Should be ready soon. Are you still staying?"

"Yeah, can't wait." Seth excitedly hedged. "But uh- what's up here? Something happen today?"

"Bella got a letter from Edward Cullen." I clarified.

"What the hell does he want?" Seth angrily quipped. "Wait- oh shit- no man- don't tell me they're coming back here or something? Not after all this time and given how easy things have been for all of us lately. Please tell me it's anything but that."

"Sorry man, but yeah, that's what the letter was about." Gentry replied with another low growl.

Seth huffed and shook his head from side to side in clear annoyance.

"Damn it!" He cussed. "What do they want!?"

"We're not sure yet." I replied.

"Well can't we tell them they're not welcome here anymore? Come on! We don't need the added stress." Seth sighed.

"Not without knowing the cause first." Gentry firmly told him.

"Fine, but I think we're making a huge mistake letting them back here, this close to our lands. I mean Jake, Clarissa is the oldest and you don't know if this could trigger something with her-"

Gentry and I both turned our head sharply back in Seths direction when we heard his thoughts on this, the sinking feeling in my stomach enough to make me physically ill.

Truth was, I hadn't even considered Clarissa. She wasn't my worry with the phase first. Mason was, but the longer I thought about Seth's comment, the more worried I became that he could be right.

"Jake, that can't- I mean- she couldn't before-" Gentry tried.

"It could." I ground out. "She is the oldest and I'm a damn idiot for not considering that before right now. I just assumed if it did touch my kids, Mason would be first."

"You and I both know Gender doesn't always matter with our genes. The proof of it is inside the house cooking lunch for us right now." Seth sorrowfully reminded. "Leah never saw it coming, Jake. Trust me when I tell you I can't count the times she's wished for things to be different. Took her a long time to accept herself in the pack. It was a long road for sure."

My heart sank further and I tried not to let my mind go there but it did anyway.

"I don't want that for my daughter or my son."

"So what's the plan?" Seth inquired. "Whatever it is, count me in."

"We're gonna intercept the rest of them. Before they all can get to Washington, right Jake?" Gentry implored.

I contemplated this before giving him an answer, my mind feeling as if it was being pulled in half a dozen different directions.

"Edward left his number in the letter. I want to speak to him myself, get a feel of what's really going on here before we set a plan in play."

"Alright, bro. This is your pack. Always will be. You set the tone for this. We follow." Gentry readily agreed with a roar.

"I second that. All of it. You lead and we follow." Seth added with a final huff.

Leah came out onto the porch with a suspicious glare toward us before she let them know that dinner was ready.

"It's on the table. Jake you're more than welcome to stay, too."

I nodded to her as Gentry retreated into the woods and phased back to human form so he could join her there on the steps.

"Jake has to get back home, but he says thanks anyways."

Seth was fast behind him and also back on two legs as he ran inside the house ahead of them both.

"Don't know what you're missing, Jake!" He called out over his shoulder, as Gentry grabbed him and tried to wrestle him back outside so he couldn't get the first plate of food for himself.

I left them to their meal and made my run back home in record time as the sun rose to it's highest in the sky. I was less than half a mile from the house when I took a sudden detour and bolted to Forks, the fire in my veins pushing me to new speeds, as I crossed the town border and followed the trail straight to the Cullens old stomping grounds. I skidded to a halt when the sickly sweet stench invaded my senses as their old house came into clear view. I huffed profusely, trying to rid the offending stench while I lowered myself down to the forest floor with a growl and waited for him there.

Edward would show and when he did, I'd be right here waiting for him.