CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
(JPOV)
There are turning points in your life that define you, moments where the action you choose can cause a domino effect that could easily ripple down through generations to come, this right here was one of these moments in time.
The rain continued it's steady fall in a heavy blanket that covered us all and I swore the thunder matched the rolling rage currently uncoiling itself within me.
The Cullens were back on our lands again, and they were currently blocking my way out of the forest with Clarissa, cutting off our path to home. As if it was a strategy.
The thought burned through my mind and left me damn near seething, but I kept my head about me the best I could and tried to keep the anger out of my voice when I spoke. I knew that inciting a fight with them right now would get me nowhere and worse, it would jeopardize Clarissa's well being and I wasn't willing to risk that for anything.
Carlisle cut in front of Edward, undoubtedly picking up on the thick tension that was pouring out between the two of us now. He held his hand up as a silent peace offer before gesturing to Clarissa with his genuine words of remorse.
"Jacob, I can understand that our timing couldn't be worse for you right now. Please, if there's anything we can do for her-" He stated, moving a bit closer to me and I took a step back instinctively at his advance, my tone quipped and short with him.
"Don't-..." I hastily warned.
Tanya made her presence known then, her hissed words of annoyance grating on my last nerve like nails on a chalkboard.
"He doesn't trust us! None of them do. I told you no good would come from this approach. You all should have listened to me." She warned Edward, sharply whipping her head back in my direction when she heard the low growl that Sam made. He was struggling to keep his cool and I ignored the lingering tremors the best I knew how, but that task was proving to be difficult and painful.
"Settle down, Tanya." Carlisle shushed her in return. "There's no need to be hostile. Jacob and the wolves wouldn't do us harm-"
"I wouldn't be so sure of that right now." I tensely told him, noting the way his golden irises settled on mine from the gap of distance between us. "You're in my way, Carlisle."
"We intercepted your path with a purpose." He carefully informed.
"I don't care what you're reasoning is right now. Fact is- you and your family crossed into La'Push again without permission and as Edward said in his letter, you yourself supposedly wanted to keep the peace and respect the boundaries put in place years ago-... yet her you are."
Carlisle needlessly straightened his form, squaring his granite shoulders with an inhale of air that no longer belonged in his lungs. as he processed my statement.
"Yes, you make a good point there and I truly do wish to adhere to the treaty and keep the peace-"
"Then you'll all step aside and let us pass without interference. You're not my priority right now and if you push me, things won't end well. Consider yourselves warned." I testily hedged, as Carlisle looked to Clarissa again, his pale face falling some as he silently observed her there in my arms.
"She's your daughter, Jacob?" He cautiously noted then.
"Yes." I ground out through clenched teeth.
"Is she ill? I still practice medicine and-" He wrongfully suggested, but I shook my head to stop his thought in it's tracks before the rest of it could leave his mouth. Carlisle looked remorseful then, his golden eyes leaving mine to look to Esme and the others around him with his quick conclusion. "She has the fever."
I barely managed a solid nod of acknowledgement to him before he motioned for the others to hurriedly retreat with him.
"We shouldn't interfere like this. Coming here was a mistake without consulting Jacob first. We assumed no real harm could come from our warranted visit and we assumed wrong. Our presence alone could hurt her more than we know. She could phase again, am I right, Jacob? She's so young."
"Yes, she's the second to phase in at a much younger age than any of us were." I truthfully replied.
"I can't imagine what that was like- for you and for her." Carlisle mournfully stated, guiding Esme along with him as he and the rest of them moved deeper into the forest quicker than my eyes could follow, his parting words barely able to be heard as they went. "We won't return until given your permission this time. You have my word, Jacob."
I didn't dare to move as the seconds passed after their departure, the strong scent in the air still enough to burn my throat and lungs from the potency.
Without hesitation, Sam and Gentry took the lead, sweeping out ahead of us to be sure none of them stuck around. With a loud huff from Sam, he looked back my way, silently giving me and Brenner the go ahead before we finished the short journey left to home.
When we finally reached the back yard, I was relieved to feel Clarissa's skin was still cool, her cheeks no longer flush as she slept on while I crossed the soaked lawn with her.
The screen door flew open and Bella came running before we'd even made it half way to the house.
"Clarissa!" She gasped, reaching us with her tears glistening in her doe eyes.
"She's okay, honey. She's okay." I assured her as she looked Clarissa over before peering up at me.
"-...are you?" She asked, leaning up on her tip toes when she gently cradled my face upon noting the silent shake of my head to her in return. "Come inside-... come on."
Brenner and the pack waited outside while Bella ushered us into the house, her steps quick as she fetched Clarissa a heavy afghan and covered her in it when I slowly laid her down on the sofa, my exhale of relief loud when she left my arms and curled into the cushions without so much as another stir.
She was safe.
She was back home.
I staggered backwards, my gaze fixed on her as she slept and my body feeling weighted as if I'd just been hit by a mac truck sometime in the last six hours. I was caving under this weight, and as much as I didn't want to, my body had other ideas. I shook the fog and exhaustion from my head, barely finding the words to whisper to Bella before trying to leave the house again.
"I gotta go, Bells." I weakly told her, my steps stumbling and unsteady from exhaustion now. She stopped me before I reached the house door, her tearful plea halting me where I stood.
"No, you can't. Please don't go back out there. You're thoroughly exhausted- you can barely stand and you can't ignore that. Jake...-please stay here with me."
I secured my hand on the door knob but didn't get the chance to push it open before she placed herself in front of me, her desperate and scared gaze holding my own just long enough for my throat to grow tight and my eyes to sting.
No more words were spoken then as she took hold of me, her full and tight embrace being the only thing I needed right now.
Bella knew this without me having to tell her. The same way she always did.
I wrapped my arms tightly around her, surrendering to the comfort that only her embrace could give as I closed my eyes and felt the lone tear run down my cheek.
A/N: More to come tomorrow. Thank you for your kind and thoughtful reviews.