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 36

It was quiet at Old Quil's place, no one daring to speak for fear of upsetting something in the air. The Pack sat in Old Quil's living room, waiting anxiously to hear any news on their brother and their Alpha Female. When they had brought them to the old man, both Paul and Bella had been in dire states and he, Sue, and Billy were working as best they could to save them. Sue, along with Leah, were currently in one room down the hall to try and save Paul, while Old Quil and Billy were in a separate room with Bella. Jacob was also present with them, out of his mind with worry about Bella. And not just Bella, but their unborn child.

The redhead, before his mate had killed her for good, had beaten Bella badly and had purposely kicked her viciously in the stomach. And then not long after that, had bitten Bella, injecting her with venom that was deadly to the Shifters. He knew they were against the clock in trying to save Bella, but he hoped they could. His father and Old Quil were in deep mediation, speaking in Quileute while praying to the spirits to heal Bella, as well as Paul. Jacob looked from them towards Bella form lying on the bed. They had dressed her in a t-shirt and sweatpants to cover her nakedness before setting to work. He wondered how it had all gone so wrong. Victoria had thrown them for a loop with her attack on Paul and then Bella's appearance in the fight had caught him completely off guard. And now here they were, Bella and Paul fighting for their lives and he felt there was nothing he could do. Jacob had never felt so useless.

A knock on the door brought him out of his musings and the two older men out of their mediation, the door opening and Sue stepping inside. She looked at them as Billy said, "Well?"

Sue sighed and nodded saying, "Paul has somehow beat the odds. The vampire crushed his heart, but it has healed a vast amount from what I could see. Even so, any further strain or injury it could really result in his death, so it may be best if Paul retires from the Pack and stop phasing completely."

"But he's alive?"

"Yes, and I believe he'll be fine. It will be at least two weeks of recovery, maybe more with the Shifter healing abilities, but he'll live." Sue walked over to the bed and laid her hand on Bella's forehead, frowning at how feverish the girl felt. "What of Bella?"

Old Quil let out a deep sigh before saying, "We are trying to make contact with the spirits and gods in the hopes they can help. And…and I'm am also trying to contact the original Alpha Female, Anais. Perhaps she will reveal herself like she did once before and save Bella."

"If she can, that is," Billy said.

Jacob tensed, not liking what his father had said. Billy had made it sound as if they may not be able to save Bella's life, or that of their baby's. But they had to survive, they just had to. He didn't think that he could go on without them. He knows Ephraim had, but he wasn't Ephraim, he wasn't his namesake. He had been able to go on in life after Anais, but he knew he wouldn't be able to live in this life without Bella by his side. He loved her so much and despite how angry he was with her for her reckless decision to fight the redhead and putting herself and their baby in danger, he's give anything in the world for her to still love and be with him on this earth.

Sue nodded slowly before a contemplative expression came over her face. Frowning Jacob asked, "What is it, Sue?"

"Maybe…maybe the reason Billy and Old Quil can't reach them is because the spirits will only speak with the Alpha of the Pack. They may be waiting to speak with you, Jacob. And if that's the case, then it is up to you to save Bella and your baby," Sue said.

The three men sat in silence as they stared at the older woman, then turned to look at each other. Old Quil leant towards Billy as the two of them deliberated what the Clearwater matriarch said before turning to look at Jacob. Billy nodded at him and said, "Son, it's time for a spirit walk."

Old Quil rose from his seat, leaning heavily on his cane as he headed to the door. Calling down the hallway, he called out, "Quil! Bring my incense, sage, and special herbs, matches, and spirit jars! And be quick about it!"

A minute later, Quil came bearing everything his grandfather asked for. Together, he and Old Quil, along with Billy, set the ceramic jars in a semi-circle around Jacob and Bella, then placed the incense, sage, and other herbs inside the jars before striking a match and dropping it into the jars. They covered them with lids for a while until smoke began to seep out from under the lids, filling the room with smoke and the heavy scent of burning herbs. It was so strong, it burned Jacob's eyes and throat, making him cough. Before he could ask Old Quil anything about what they were doing, Old Quil spoke instead.

"Young Jacob, it is up to you to go beyond to the spirit realm and reach the Anais and the other spirits. You must find them and request their help in order to save Bella. Only the Alpha can do it to save the Alpha Female. Ephraim was too late with Anais, but it isn't too late for Bella."

Jacob nodded, kind of understanding what was being asked of him. And he would do it to save Bella. But what about their baby? He questioned them about that, only to be told that it might be too late for the baby, but it didn't hurt to try and save it as well. Instructed to sit cross-legged on the floor, Jacob closed his eyes and took a deep breath as Billy said, "Now son, we will begin the chants to take you to the spirit realm. The rest is up to you once you get there. Are you ready?"

Nodding Jacob answered, "I'm ready."

Without further ado, Billy, Quil, and Old Quil began chanting in Quileute, their own eyes closed as they spoke in their native tongue. Sue, knowing she needed to leave, moved to the jars and removed the lids, releasing all of the smoke and allowing it and the scents they were emitting to fill the room, knowing it was crucial to what they were doing. Once she did that, she quickly left the room, closing the door behind her.

Jacob breathed deeply, his lungs and senses filled with the smell of burning incense and herbs, the smoke burning his lungs and nostrils and making his closed eyes water. He wanted to cough, to open his eyes and open a window, but he knew he couldn't, not if this was going to work. He took another deep breath and allowed the heavy smoke and scents to fill him, making him lightheaded as he listened to the deep voices speaking his native language. He was so focused on it, so entranced really, that he didn't realize how deep he was into it until he felt like he was floating. Not only floating, but the chanting was getting fainter and fainter. Suddenly, a chilling, howling wind blew over Jacob, forcing him to open his eyes finally. Blinking in surprise, Jacob found himself standing on a path of stars, surrounded by a void of blue and black. Looking around in awe, Jacob saw the whitish-blue, transparent figures of his people from generations before him. He had made it; he had made it to the spirit realm.

"A spirit walk?" Sam asked in surprise.

Sue, after leaving the room and joining the others in Old Quil's living room, filled everyone in on what was currently going on with Bella. The Pack was surprised, as none of them had taken a spirit walk since the first time any of them had phased. So to learn that Jacob was taking another one was a surprise. However, considering the circumstances and with Bella's life hanging in the balance, it was understandable that their Alpha would do this to save his mate.

Seth frowned in concern and asked, "Do you think he'll succeed, mom?"

Giving her son a small smile, Sue answered, "We can only pray, dear. We can only pray."

Jacob felt like he was walking forever, and oddly enough, none of the spirits around him were paying him any mind. Even so, he had no idea where he was headed, only that he was looking for Anais. He could vaguely remember Old Quil's description of her when telling him and Bella about her, but he hoped that would be enough to find her. A paleface with brown hair and dark blue eyes; shouldn't be too hard to find, right?

After a longer while of walking, he finally just decided to call out her name. Cupping his mouth with his hands, he called out, "Anais! Anais!"

A few spirits looked at him, but otherwise ignored him. He continued to walk along the starry path, calling out the original Alpha Female's name. Getting frustrated he called out again, "Anais! Anais, where are you?!"

"Stop yelling, boy," a deep voice rumbled behind him.

Quickly turning, Jacob stepped back in surprise at the person standing before him. He had only heard stories of him from the many stories and legends passed down through generations, but there was no mistaking who this was. Standing before him was none other than Taha Aki.

Not knowing what to do in the presence of such a powerful man, Jacob looked down at his feet and mumbled, "I'm sorry."

"Speak clearly from your chest, Jacob Black," Taha Aki said.

"Yes sir," Jacob replied.

Taha Aki regarded his descendent closely before asking, "What brings you here, young Alpha?"

Jacob looked up at his ancestor and answered, "I'm looking for the Alpha Female, Anais. My mate Bella, she's hurt badly. She's been bitten by a Cold One, and that same Cold One has potentially killed out unborn child. I…I need Anais's help to save their lives."

Dark brown eyes looked intently at Jacob for a moment before turning and calling out, "Ephraim, Anais, come forth."

Jacob's eyes widened in shock at seeing his great-grandfather stepping forth from the sea of spirits. And by his side was Anais, a kind smile on her face. Ephraim stopped beside Taha Aki and gave him a warm smile saying, "Jacob, you look just like your mother, but you are going to become a strong man like your father and myself."

At Jacob's bashful smile, he chuckled before turning to Anais who had yet to speak. He gestured for her to step to his great-grandson, giving her a loving smile of encouragement as he did. Anais stepped up to Jacob and asked, "Has young Isabella done it? Has she carried the burden of being the Alpha Female with success?"

"Yes, and she's taken to it beautifully," Jacob answered. A pained expression came over his face. "But she's hurt now. She has vampire venom in her system and it's killing her. Not only that, but our baby could be dying as we speak as well. Please, I need your help to save them, to save her. Please, help me."

Anais had a look of sympathy on her face before looking up at Ephraim. Ephraim turned to look at Taha Aki, their ancestor looking contemplative over the situation. After a while, he simply nodded and walked away, but not before saying, "Only this once, Ephraim."

Ephraim and Anais smiled before turning back to Jacob. Gazing at his descendent, Ephraim said, "We will save your Bella, Jacob. We will sustain her for three nights to completely heal her and rid her body of the venom of the Cold Ones."

"However, once she is healed, I will extract from her the power of the Alpha Female. The burden was only meant to be carried until the threat of the Cold Ones was no longer a major problem for the Quileute people. And now that threat is gone, so there is no longer a need for her to be present. I hope you can understand, Jacob," Anais said.

Nodding Jacob replied, "I understand, and Bella and the Pack will too. But what about our baby? Will you save it, too?"

Anais and Ephraim looked at each other before Ephraim answered honestly, "We will try. Now Jacob, return back to your realm and wait for three nights to pass. But note, this is the only time we will do this."

"Though, let us hope there isn't another time," Anais added.

Jacob nodded and thanked the couple wholeheartedly, telling them he didn't know what to do to possibly thank them. Chuckling, Ephraim told him to take care of his Pack and people, as well as his family and to leave the rest to them. Ephraim then placed his finger on Jacob's forehead and pressed against it, causing Jacob to fly back all the way out of the spirit realm, crashing back down into his body in Old Quil's room.

Jacob gasped heavily as his eyes snapped open, quickly rising out of his trance. He coughed as he struggled to stand, Quil helping him to his feet before moving to the window and opening it to let out all the smoke inside of the room. As the room was airing out Old Quil asked, "Well Jacob, was your spirit walk a success?"

Coughing some more, Jacob nodded before smiling. "Yes, it was. I met Ephraim and Anais. I even met Taha Aki."

Quil's eyes widened and he asked in excitement, "What's he like?"

"Terrifying."

Old Quil and Billy chuckled before Billy asked, "And Bella?"

Jacob looked at his girlfriend's still form on the bed before saying, "Three nights must pass. Three nights, and Bella will be alright."

And he would patiently wait for those three nights to pass, so long as his honey returned to him.

After Jacob's trip to the spirit realm, he moved Bella to his home and took turns looking over her with Billy and Sue. The Pack came to check on her as well, each day stating she was looking better than before. The bite mark on her shoulder that she had gotten from Victoria had been bright red, but now was a pale pink and on the way to turning silvery, just like the one on her wrist.

While she lay there healing, Jacob would also take the time to go and check on Paul. Paul was healing slowly and in no condition to move, but he was awake after a day and a half. Jacob was glad that Paul seemed to be doing better considering what had happened to him but had to break the unfortunate news to him that he couldn't phase anymore. Surprisingly, Paul accepted it with ease and stated that after all the trouble he's caused to them all and how it almost killed him, he would gladly give up phasing. Even more surprising was that during his time recovering, he and Leah had seemed to suddenly get closer. She had been the main one caring for him along with her mother, but even after they were done, she'd stay behind and sit and talk with him. It made Jacob wonder if something was there between them.

The third night had come and gone, and by the fourth morning, Jacob was a bundle of nerves as he waited by his bed for Bella to make some sort of movement. Not only that, but also if their baby had made it through the horrific ordeal. Sue was smuggling a portable ultrasound machine to his home to do an ultrasound check on their baby and would be arriving any minute. He waited apprehensively for something to happen, whether that be Sue arriving or Bella waking up. Finally, right when he felt he was going to burst, Bella let out a small groan before opening her eyes, those beautiful chocolate brown orbs looking up at him. With a weak smile, Bella greeted in a raspy voice, "Hey."

Tears filled Jacob's eyes and he leant his head against Bella's chest, silently crying in joy as he listened to her slow, yet steady heartbeat. His honey was alive, she was still with him. Lifting his head, he leant his forehead against hers and whispered, "I love you, Bells."

"I love you too, Jake," Bella replied softly, pressing a soft kiss against his lips and hugging him close.

A knock on the door sounded and it opened, Sue stepping in carrying the ultrasound machine in with her. Smiling at the couple she said, "Thank God, it's a miracle. And Bella, it's good to see those eyes open again."

Bella smiled and greeted, "Hi Sue." She then saw the machine in the older woman's hand, causing her to place her own hand on her stomach. Looking back at her she asked, "Is that…?"

"Yes, it is. Now, let's take a look at that baby."

Sue quickly got to work setting the machine up and placing the gel on Bella's stomach, soon pressing the wand against it and smearing it around while looking at the screen. After five minutes of silence, Bella asked anxiously, "Is our baby okay?"

"Well, do you want the good news or the bad news first?"

"There's bad news?" Jacob asked concerned.

"If you want to look at it that way. First, you know how fast you were progressing in your pregnancy, Bella?" At the brunette's nod, she continued. "Well, it seems that Ephraim and Anais did their job too well, because this baby looks completely full term despite your still somewhat flat stomach."

Bella looked at Jacob in confusion, only to be told he'd tell her later.

"As for the good news…" Sue turned to grin at the young couple. "He's completely alive and well."

Happy tears filled Bella's eyes and she couldn't help but ask, "'He'? My baby is a boy? And he's alive?"

"Yes, yes, and yes. And by the looks of it, he could be born within a couple of days. Congratulations, everything is alright and accounted for."

Bella burst into happy sobs and hugged Jacob, he too crying tears of joy at the news. Their baby was alright and they had come out on the other end of a terrible chapter in their lives. And now, now their lives could finally move forward and things could go back to normal. Or as normal as having a baby would be for them, but they would take it after everything they had gone through. And as Jacob held Bella, he couldn't help but think, Thank you, Ephraim, Anais, Taha Aki. I'll always be grateful to you all for this.

Author's Note: Everything turned out alright, didn't it? I will be wrapping this story up in either the next chapter or the next two or three. I'll have to see where I want to go with it. But still, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and stay tuned for more. XOXO, SehunsBae37.