The Alpha Female

JacobxBella

Rated M

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the franchise, as it belongs to Steph Meyers

The Alpha Female

Chapter 3

"The…the what?" Bella asked.

"What did you say?" Jacob asked.

Old Quil stood up and moved, rather quickly, to Bella and grasped her face in his hands, his eyes looking over her face intently while also in awe. Grinning he said, "I said 'the Alpha female has finally returned'. I didn't think she'd ever show up again for hundreds of years, but she has!"

Bella, feeling more uncomfortable than ever, stepped out of Old Quil's grasp and moved to stand closer to Jacob, her hand automatically reaching out and taking his, holding it tightly. Jacob squeezed her hand in return as a form of comfort. Frowning he asked, "What do you mean you thought she'd never show up? Who and what are you talking about? Is this something that only the Elders know about?"

Billy looked at his son and nodded answered, "Yes, this is a bit of information that the Council decided to omit when telling the stories of the old Quileute tribe and Pack, more specifically in terms of Ephraim Black's Pack. The reason it was omitted was due to the fact that there have been no signs of the Alpha Female's return."

"Until now," Old Quil finished.

Bella looked up at Jacob before looking back at the two men. Swallowing harshly and her heart pounding in her chest she said, "I don't understand. What does this omitted information have to do with me?"

"Bella, I'm sure you've already figured it out by now. You are exceptionally smart after all, you know, when you don't make decisions that put everyone at risk or in danger," Billy said giving her a knowing look that made Bella flush in embarrassment and look away. Ignoring the warning glare from his son he continued, "Back in the 1930s, Ephraim as you know was Alpha of the Pack. It wasn't long after his Pack was formed when he first came across a young woman by the name of Anais. Anais was said to be rather plain with very little self-esteem, but to Ephraim she was perfect. Though she was also fifteen years his junior, he adored everything about her and wanted to be with her. However there was only one problem."

"She was a paleface," Old Quil said. "I remember her clearly. She had brown hair she always hid behind and dark blue eyes, a small button nose and rarely smiled. The only time she ever seemed to was when she was with Ephraim. However it was impossible for them to be together seeing as she was an unwanted paleface to the tribe, and he was an older, "uncouth" native to her family. They were in love, but could not be together. I did not object to them being together, neither did Levi Uley, but the Council at the time did."

Billy nodded before continuing, "Anais knew that Ephraim was a wolf Shifter, the only person outside of the tribe to know, like you Bella. She also believed in many spirits and ancient legends, another one of the reasons her family did not want her to associate with us. She wanted so badly to be with Ephraim and he her that they both decided to take matters into their own hands and do something where the rest of the Council would have to acknowledge her and allow them to be together. Using ancient, and somewhat forbidden magic, the tried to connect their souls together so they wouldn't ever have to be separated. It somewhat worked, but with some rather strange and shocking results. Rather than connecting their souls, Ephraim's spirit wolf latched onto Anais' soul and caused great change in her physical appearance."

"She looked like how Bella does now," Quil interjected as he listened intently in interest.

Old Quil nodded and said, "I was shocked to say the least and Ephraim was quick to make her a part of the Pack. She was our first female Pack member, you could say. And because Anais' new appearance and was with Ephraim she was dubbed the Alpha Female. A well deserved title, as she had amazing strength and speed, as well as a confidence she had never had before, so much so that when Ephraim could not lead us, she would and Levi and I would listen. She was great and we were happy to have her for the amount of time we did."

Bella looked at Quil's grandfather and took notice of the look of melancholy that entered his eyes. In a soft voice she asked, "What happened to her?"

A grave look came over the old man's face before he answered, "The Council eventually found out about what they had done and decided to punish them. One night when they were certain Anais was with Ephraim on our lands, they ambushed them and beat Ephraim, forcing Anais to watch. She didn't have her wolf-like appearance at the time and thus the Council believed her helpless. She became so enraged at seeing the abuse Ephraim's Council members were bringing upon him, that she took on her Alpha female form and attacked the Council members. However one of the Council members had thought it wise to bring a small handgun and he used it on Anais. He shot her in her chest, piercing her heart. They left her body where it was and left Ephraim to grieve her."

Billy cleared his throat a little and said, "Anais did appear again, only in spirit. It wasn't long after the treaty had been made with the Cullens when she appeared to not only Ephraim, but Levi and Old Quil. She told them that she would return one day when she was really needed, whether the future Council and Pack liked it or not."

"We waited for the Alpha Female's return for years. Even as we all found love, for Ephraim a new love, and grew older and had children we waited patiently for her return. As the years passed it became apparent that she wasn't going to return any time soon and with little to no vampire activity, there was no reason for her to. But seeing as there is more than enough of that happening now, she's returned and finally let herself be known," Old Quil said.

"But why me?" Bella asked.

"I believe Anais knew you would be the one strong enough to carry the, more or less, burden being the Alpha Female would take. I also believe that the reason you've finally come into it is due to the fact you felt angered and in response to that you transformed into how you look now. And also, you probably did as the Pack did and transformed in response to the presence of a vampire. And I'm to assume the vampire that was there at the time was Carlisle's eldest, yes?"

Bella nodded slowly as she thought back to when she had stopped Edward and Jacob from fighting. She had indeed felt angered and had felt hot, really hot. It wasn't as bad as how Jacob had described his first time Shifting to her, but she had been rather warm. And she had to admit she felt all tingly at the time; that had to have been when the change in her appearance happened. But the one question that was circulating in her mind was how she could possibly be the Alpha Female if she was with Edward. Sam was the Alpha of the Pack, so it was impossible for her to be his…rightful other half.

Deciding to question it she asked, "But how can this be? How could I have taken on this look when Sam is the current Alpha of the Pack? I am dating Edward, after all so this can't possibly be right."

Billy looked at his son, holding his gaze as he spoke to Bella saying, "It is because your soul has officially reached out to the rightful Alpha and has latched on to his."

Quil grinned and exclaimed, "So that means that Jake and Bella are forever connected!"

"Yes, therefore it makes sense she has finally come into being the Alpha Female, for her soul has accepted the rightful Alpha's and therefore have bonded," Old Quil said. "In fact, I would even say that she responded due to Jacob being in danger."

Bella began to hyperventilate and let go of Jacob's hand, stepping away from him. She…she had…no, it wasn't possible! She was with Edward! She was in love with Edward! This couldn't happen to her! Jacob had to have done something. Glaring at him she ground out, "What did you do? This is your doing, isn't it?"

Jacob was taken aback at the sudden accusation before he returned her glare and said, "I don't know why you're blaming me for this. I didn't do anything to you for this to happen."

"You kissed me! That had to have been it! This is your fault! And now I can't be with Edward anymore!"

"Oh sure, care only for your leech. I saw the way he looked at you when you first came out of the bathroom. He looked at you like you were something repulsive and even covered his nose because you apparently smelled bad to him. And let's not forget that you're like this because of him."

"I don't care! I love Edward and nothing is going to change that, not even this!" Looking at Old Quil she demanded, "Change me back! Do it right now!"

Shaking his head Old Quil said, "I can't, as it is something you will have to figure out on your own. But as long as you stay angry and upset the way you are now, you won't return to your normal self."

Bella stared in disbelief at him before looking at the other three males in the room. Not knowing what else to do she turned and ran out of the house, ignoring Jacob's call of her name. She ran as fast and far as she could that before she knew it, she was standing on the cliff that she had jumped off of. Taking in quick breaths she looked down at her claws before reaching up to feel her face, the fur sprouting from the edges, her pronounced cheekbones, and her elongated canines. She…she was a monster now. Edward wouldn't be able to stand the sight of her and would leave her again, she just knew it.

Feeling hopeless she dropped to her knees and began to sob, her warm tears falling from her eyes down her cheeks. She clawed the ground before beating it in her despair. Why did everything awful always have to happen to her? She was so caught up into her crying that the sound of a twig snapping caught her by surprise and thus she felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise. With her newfound animal instinct, she growled before turning and pouncing on the person that was behind her, knocking them to the ground flat on their back. She snarled before abruptly stopping as she realized who it was.

Blinking in surprise Bella said, "Leah?"

Leah Clearwater looked up at Bella in surprise for a moment before scowling and started, "Bitch, if you don't get up off me..."

Bella scrambled off of the she wolf before seating herself on legs, watching as Leah sat up and rubbed the back of her neck. Seeing her do that she said, "I'm sorry."

"Whatever. But forget about me at the moment. I'm more interested in talking about you," Leah said looking into Bella's bright eyes. "Sam told me you looked different and that you might need a female to talk to. He didn't go into details and I see why."

Flushing a bit Bella said, "I don't know what to do about…my situation. And I'm still trying to wrap my mind around all of the information I've been given. It's a bit too much for me to deal with right now."

Leah looked at the brunette before saying, "Well let's start with making you look like your normal self first."

"How?"

"First of all, calm the hell down. Like, all the way down. Once you do that, just think of peaceful thoughts while also willing yourself to turn back to normal. If that doesn't work, just envision what you really look like and concentrate on that, all the while keeping peaceful, happy thoughts."

Bella closed her eyes and took deep calming breaths. She could feel her heartbeat slow down to normal and soon found herself to be calm. She then began do as the she wolf said and willed herself to look like her regular self again, thinking happy thoughts. However what she thought were happy thoughts filled with Edward and the Cullens made her feel anxious again. She didn't understand, for she thought all of her happy memories were with them. Feeling her anxiety rise again she said, "L-Leah."

"Breathe, you can do this," Leah's voice told her soothingly.

Calming herself once more, Bella blew out a slow breath of air before doing as instructed once again. This time she thought back to when she would hang out with Jacob in his garage, Embry and Quil being there as well and how they'd all goof off. She thought of Charlie and Billy arguing over silly things and how they were always so certain the Mariners would win whenever the game was on and the team was playing. She thought of the time she had hugged Charlie and he responded with little to no hesitation, causing her to feel warm inside. And finally she thought of Jacob and how he had kissed her, how the kiss had made her feel despite how angry she had been.

Opening her eyes she looked at Leah to see the older girl smiling at her. Reaching up she felt her face and found it felt like it normally was. Looking down at her hands she found her nails were no longer claws. Realizing she had returned to normal she said in awe, "I did it. Thank you, Leah."

Leah nodded her head and replied, "Don't mention it. Now how about we head into town and talk more about your situation."

Bella nodded and let Leah help her up before the two girls walked back down the cliff to head back to get Bella's truck that was still at the Black house.