SM owns Twilight. We just want to live in her world a bit longer.

A/N Part 2 of the double upload today. Make sure you read Chapter 35 first.

Chapter 36

"If we are to expect constant attacks, I think we need to change how we do patrols," Jake suggested, trying not to offend Sam, who has been doing a good job so far. "We have been doing eight-hour shifts, but maybe we should make them shorter, swap out more frequently. Hopefully, that will keep our energy levels higher. Especially if we are to expect more attacks."

"In the past, vampires would run away from us, but these last two attacks have been different. They wanted to fight, and they thought they could win. Each coven has had defensive gifts that would have decimated us if Jacob's pack had been unable to help," Sam added.

"We should probably do a few more group training sessions, similar to what we did with Jasper before the Newborn fight. Especially now, with a new pack structure," Jacob said. Quil looked excitedly at Embry. He was always up for a good fight.

Billy looked proudly at his son. "I think those are some great ideas. We need to keep vigilant as we now have an active threat against our tribe."

"We should also keep an eye out on a couple of the young boys and girls with the wolf genes," Sue spoke up. "With increased vampire activity, it is likely that we will get new kids phasing." A few of the guys groaned around the circle.

It wasn't fair that more lives had to be changed, childhoods stripped away from them.

Bella shifted a little under Jacob's arm. "Um… can I make a suggestion?" she said quietly.

"Yes, of course," Billy said.

"Is there any way that you could warn the boys before they phase?"

The elders looked uncomfortably at that suggestion

"I agree," Jacob said quickly. "That first phase was so frightening and so unexpected. If we had been warned, we would have been much better off."

"Agreed," Sam said. All the other guys were also nodding.

"You all know the signs to look for. They shouldn't be hard to spot as they grow into men overnight," Bella suggested. "And their parents should be told, so they know the signs of an imminent phase." A few glances at Emily and Sam.

The elders looked at each other and then deferred to Billy. "If these attacks are to continue, then yes, we should expect more kids to phase, and they should be told."

"But what if they don't phase or don't believe us and the secret gets out?" Old Quil angrily said. "We have always kept it on a need-to-know basis and only told after it was certain." He was obviously not happy about his precious secrets getting out and most probably held a grudge against Jacob and Bella for their part in making him look like a fool.

Jacob bristled. Old Quil had no idea what it was like for them. He didn't even have a son who phased, only his grandson. "The whole tribe knows the legends. If some kids start telling everyone it is true, most won't believe them. And, besides, the positives out way the negatives as far as we are concerned. Freaked out puppies running around in horse-sized bodies is dangerous for everyone."

The elders took a vote, and Old Quil was the only one who voted against it. All the other elders were parents and knew their kid's struggles. Sue was going to research the bloodlines, and Seth offered to keep an eye out at school.

Charlie cleared his throat. "The girls should also get some training. I, for one, am not happy about Bella fighting vampires. However, they have been given this gift of being able to protect themselves and others. If you are expecting more attacks, some may get through your defense lines into town. It would be helpful if they knew how to handle themselves and these vampires."

Bella smiled proudly at her father. Jacob had forgotten that Charlie would have tactical knowledge and good ideas on keeping a town safe, being Chief of police and all.

A few elders and parents nodded at his suggestion. However, the imprinted wolves look torn between wanting to help their mates and also not liking the thought of them seeing another vampire.

"Yes, we can do that," Jacob finally said.

"I think it would be good to hear from Sybil a bit more about this new covenant. I'm sure a few of us have questions on how it works. It would probably help us all prepare better."

Sybil had remained quiet through most of the meeting so far. She nodded.

"I don't know much more than I have already said. There wasn't a lot of information provided in the initial prophecy. I can try my best… What specifically would you like to know? "

"Will they be as strong as the wolves?" Billy asked. Jacob looked at Bella and smiled, trying not to remember their morning activities.

"I believe they will be as strong as an unphased wolf, but not as strong as a phased one."

"Will they change physically? Like we did before, they phased," Jared asked.

"I don't know," Sybil said.

Everyone looked to Bella. She, of course, blushed.

"Bella is a lot stronger than she used to be, but physically, she hasn't changed much," Jacob commented. Jacob decided against commenting on her petit size. She had put some weight on over the past month, but she had been too skinny before.

"You said imprints and their families," Billy spoke. "Is that children or parents?"

Sybil looked straight at Charlie. "I assumed it would have been future generations; their children. However, look at Charlie." Everyone followed her gaze. He looked confused. "He should have died last night. A vampire can crush a skull without much thought. Yet, Charlie not only survived but also appears to be healing rapidly."

There was silence around the room until Quil broke it with an Owen Wilson style, "wow!" This earned a few chuckles from around the room.

Embry whispered to him, "that one was pretty good." Leah punched Em in the shoulder.

Billy obviously didn't get the joke, as he scowled at the laughing teenagers in the room.

"I think it would be a good idea for all the girls and maybe a few of the parents to see Doctor Witt, since he is in the know. It will be interesting to see how this new covenant plays out and what its implications will be on our tribe."

Most people seemed to agree with his suggestion. Jake felt a little apprehensive about Bella being subjected to medical testing. He would chat with his dad afterward to ensure he could attend the doctor visits as well.

"Before we close this meeting, on behalf of the tribal council of elders, we would like to officially apologize to a few people present today. Jacob and Bella, can you please stand?" Billy asked.

Jake held Bella's hand as they stood up.

"We are truly sorry for the heartache and anguish we have caused you two. Our tribe will officially recognize your imprint, and it will be recorded as such. An imprint is considered a higher form of union than marriage. So, Bella, it is my privilege to offer you honorary tribal membership. Should you wish to accept it."

Jacob could feel an overwhelming amount of emotions flowing through his bond with Bella. Just twenty-four hours ago, she was not good enough for Jacob, but now, they wanted to accept her. It was a complete backflip, and her emotions showed it.

Bella chewed on her bottom lip before she spoke. "Of course…" she blushed. "I have always felt like I didn't fit in. I would be honored to find my place in the world here, in La Push."

Billy smiled proudly back at her. "Thank you."

Old Quil stood up next and cleared his voice. He looked clearly uncomfortable about what he had to say next. "Jacob, the last time we met, you were under investigation for marking Bella against the council's instructions. While you still did act against our wishes, we were wrong in asking you not to do it. As such, there will be no further punishment, and your stipends will be reinstated. You are still in line to be the next Chief of the Quileute tribe when required, and should you have a son with Bella, the Black line will continue with them." When he finished his speech, he sat back down without looking at Jake directly.

Jacob frowned and shook his head. Old Quil didn't even apologize. "Is that all you've got to say?" he asked angrily.

Old Quil narrowed his eyes as he finally looked Jacob in the eye. "You may be part of some new magical connection," he said, waving his arms around. "But you didn't know that at the time, and you acted arrogantly towards your elders, showing no respect."

"We didn't know about the connection because you hid it from everyone!" Jacob shouted, raising his voice.

"That wasn't me! That was my grandfather! He did what he thought was best under the circumstances, to protect the tribe against future Namaak imprints." Old Quil rebuffed.

"Knowing about the possibility of this fake imprint would have changed the way that a few of us acted," Jacob was pissed off now.

"No harm, no foul," Old Quil tried to fob it off as inconsequential.

There was a heavy silence in the room as the two faced off.

"What do you mean by a few of you?" Billy asked perceptively, picking on the one bit that Jacob wished he hadn't said in the heat of the moment.

"Nothing," Jacob mumbled without meeting his father's gaze. He squeezed Bella's hand they sat down together.

"Is there another unusual imprint?" Billy asked the whole group. Nobody answered him.

Billy sighed, "I'm not surprised that no one is willing to come forward. The council has acted foolishly in the past, and that is partly my fault. I spent the whole night sitting by my daughter's side in that clinic, and I thought… I thought about a lot of stuff.

"I'm ashamed to say that it took nearly losing Rachel for me to realize my past mistakes." Billy's voice was cracking at the end of the sentence. "And, I pushed my son away to the point where I don't know if he will ever forgive me.

"If we, the elders of this tribe, want your respect, then we need to respect you as well." Billy glanced at Old Quil, effectively putting him in his place. Billy Black is the leader of this tribe, not Quil Ateara III. "We don't say this enough, aloud. But we are immensely proud of each and every one of you. We have seen the sacrifices you have made. You risk your lives on a daily basis for us. In the battle for our lives, we send our children out to fight for us." Billy shook his head.

"If we had a choice, we would do it ourselves, but the spirits chose you. We would take your place, in a heartbeat, if we could. I would get out of this goddamn chair," Billy slammed his hands down on the arms of his wheelchair. "And fight for my people, but I can't," unshed tears shining in his eyes.

Billy glanced at each of the pack members, looking them all in the eye, to acknowledge each and every one. "We need to respect you, and we need to work with you, not against you. I know that it will take a while to rebuild that trust, but I vow to prove to you that we are on your side. I am truly sorry for the undue stress and pain we have caused you all. I hope that in time, you will forgive us, and you will come to see that you can always talk to me, to us, and we will listen, not judge."

There was silence as Billy's words settled over the pack. It was true that the elders were not seen in a position of authority in the pack's mind. They were a hindrance, and rare every actually helped. There was, however, one piece of information that the elders had that they were refusing to divulge.

"I cannot speak on behalf of the pack and how they feel. That will be for them to decide individually. However, I am willing to work more closely with you, on one condition," Jacob stated calmly. Billy looked him in eyes and nodded. "You need to tell us who Embry's father is."

There was an intake of breath around the room, and Jacob glanced at his friend to make sure that this was okay with him. Embry looked extremely nervous, as his eyes glanced from one elder to the next.

The elders looked very uncomfortable at being called out. Well, if they wanted the pack to trust them, they needed to cough it up. "You must know who he is, and keeping this information from him is cruel," Jake continued. "He has a brother in this room, and he deserves to know who he is."

"Embry," Billy directed his question directly to him. "Is this what you want? Do you want to find out right here, with everyone present?"

Embry nodded. "Yes. The pack will find out as soon as I phase anyway."

Billy studied Embry as if to see if he meant what he said, before nodding, "Okay." He waited... and there was complete silence in the room.

Old Quil shifted in his seat before finally lifting his head. He spoke nervously. "You don't have a brother anymore, Embry. He died fifteen years ago."

Embry's face showed his conflicting emotions as he slowly worked out what was being said.

"Dude!" Quil Jr said excitedly, looking at his best friend. "You're my uncle!"

A/N A few of you suggested that I make Old Quil his father and I had to agree. Trust Quil Jr to go straight to making this a good thing.

Old Quil was born in the early 1940s, so it would make him 45ish when Embry was born. Not too unreasonable...

What do you think about Billy's apology? Should Jacob and pack forgive them just yet?