AN: Hello again everyone. This is a chapter I'd been waiting to write ever since I planned a new twist in this story a few chapters ago. Let me know what you guys all think. Reviews are always appreciated.

Also, unless otherwise stated, the rest of the story will be from Charlie's POV.

Chapter 23

The True Alpha

Looking outside at the first light of a new day filled me with sense of confidence. It felt kind of strange; knowing that the most powerful vampire coven in the world would be in the area in only three more days and that they were coming to check up on my family. But with the visions that Alice had seen about the conflict, that there was a possibility that we'd all make it through unscathed, I thought that we might be able to have a happily ever after. But there would only be one way that could happen.

The Cullens had told me during my transformation about that time when the Volturi came four years ago, many of our kind saw them for what they really were, especially Aro and Caius, and that was power-hungry tyrants. Our kind was ripe for a revolution now; I was as confident as Garrett about this. But to free our kind, we would have to defeat the vampire royalty to have an entirely new system replace them.

Carlisle had been working throughout the night after we finished with our training with trying to contact as many of our friends as possible. So far he was able to get ahold of two from southern Africa and also a coven from Ireland. They were all coming as fast as they could to aid our family. In addition, we still had with us the four vampires from South America plus the two half vampire children who would no doubt help with the fight in any way they could. But still, I was nervous.

The Quileutes were also bound to help since Jacob was so much of a part of Nessie's life, and now with Seth being bound to Jennifer as well that only added to their obligation to help us. We needed as much help as we could get but I worried if even this display would be enough.

Billy had said before he left just after three in the morning that the wolves' population had exploded in the last few months, almost like the danger that was coming triggered more and more of the young to phase for the first time. Billy had been looking for it, watching carefully for the first signs of the coming change and, to this point had even seen it in a few of the girls. Their numbers were up to thirty-two now, including five girls, with even more expected soon.

But I was drawn back to Billy's recent changes. With him regaining most of his strength again, it was only a matter of time before he resumed changing into a wolf. If only there was a way to rush along his memory; to make him remember how to phase more quickly. Then it hit me.

Edward looked right at me with a gasp. "Interesting," he added at my thought.

"What?" Jacob mumbled, his mouth full of the bologna sandwich he was eating as he quickly gulped the mouthful down his gullet.

"But you better run it by Jacob first," Edward added.

"Run what by me?" He snapped, Jacob's mouth still sounding like he had a lot of bread in the roof of his mouth after loudly gulping down the bite that had been in his mouth. "Damn it, bloodsucker," he snarled at Edward, "will you ever let anyone else know what the hell is going on?"

Unlike many in Sam's pack, with Jacob and Seth especially there was normally no animosity when he called us that. It was simply just a nickname for us.

Renesmee was back at his side in a flash, no doubt noticing that his arms had been shaking. She wrapped her arms around his left and that quickly stopped his trembling, but I could see Edward's discomfort from having her so close to Jacob when he was so close to losing control of himself.

"It's my fault," I said trying to save Edward from Jacob's anger. "I was just trying to think of how to get your dad to… you know, turn into a wolf like you."

"Oh," Jacob said as he took another large bite from his sandwich, which to me smelled absolutely revolting. It was strange, I used to love bologna on white bread with a couple of dill pickles, but now all of my former favorites smelled like roadkill and tasted worse.

"So I was thinking that we could try attacking him… or someone else he cares about."

"You're gonna do what to my dad?!" Jacob screamed as he started trembling again, but Renesmee only gripped his arm tighter again. "I knew you were no better than these reeking leeches!" He screeched at me as he pointed towards where Jasper was.

"Not really attack him," I tried to defend myself. "Come on Jake, you know I'd never really hurt your dad but we need all the help we can get."

"Oh," again Jacob said realizing he had overreacted. I had to make him understand this; it was crucial.

"So either we go after your dad, or"

"Your sister," Edward finished for me since I could even utter it.

Rachael was involved in all of this weirdness since Paul had imprinted on her and even after hearing from old Quil and Billy that it was all real, and Paul even phasing in front of her, she still didn't believe it. She had come to accept it only recently when learning that the truth about the Cullens but, even more so Bella. She finally understood when Rachael understood that she and Bella were a lot alike, both loved by a supernatural being, with both having dreams of joining this world some day, even if no one was sure if the shifting wolves could bite others into their ranks.

"Yeah, Rach might be better," Jacob suggested but was lost in thought for a second but, as usual Edward answered his thought.

"Yes, of course we'd run it by Paul but no, she can't be aware of it."

"Damn it!" Jacob shouted again. "Stop racking around in my head!"

"Sorry," Edward answered looking contrite. "I don't do it on purpose."

"Why can't Rach be in on it?" Jacob asked calming himself again.
"We need her reaction to be one hundred percent genuine," Edward answered, sounding completely confident in himself. "Think about it; your father must believe that his daughter is in the gravest of peril in order to trigger his anger for the necessity of protecting his daughter. Of course, we will explain it all to them later but, at the time, they must think that the danger is very real."

"Who should… ya know?"

We all looked at each other. There were good reasons for almost everyone, except Carlisle. The tribe had become more and more trusting of the doctor since the fight with the newborns and we wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardize that, even if it was in the best intentions of all of us. And Billy would never believe that Bella would be capable of such an attack on someone that she had known since she was a baby, so that really only left myself and Edward.

"Charlie," Edward answered again completely confident.

"But she knows that I'd never hurt her," I tried to defend myself. In truth, it wasn't just that but I never wanted to be put so close to temptation.

"The human you," Edward said again making his point confidently, "yes would never hurt her but the newborn vampire you; he might. She knows that you've been changed and I'm sure that Paul has told her how dangerous newborns can be. And you wouldn't really be hurting her, just scaring her; a lot like how Kate did during Bella's early shield training.

Jacob acquiesced but I could tell he still wasn't thrilled about it. He worried that we wouldn't be able to convince Paul that Rachael wouldn't really be in any danger, which I wasn't sure would be the case.

Paul had been reluctant and I couldn't exactly blame him for it. Hell, he nearly tore my head off when I even suggested going near Rachael but I could tell that he was trusting of Jacob's acceptance of it. While we all knew it would be difficult for Paul to be away from her in that potentially dangerous time I'd be near her, he also knew that Jacob wouldn't be far away; just far enough so that Billy wouldn't know Jake was nearby.

"I don't like it," Paul snarled when Edward brought it up. "What happens if he hurts Rachael if he does phase?" What was not mentioned was if I would hurt her, which I was confident would not happen but I was still worried that it might.

He knew that if it did work; Billy's first phase would be the dangerous part. The first phase tended to be the most violent and they became less so as the shapeshifting wolf learned how to control themselves during those first few seconds as an animal.

Jacob shrugged. He wasn't sure about any of this but knew that his dad would be a great benefit to our side in a fight. Back in his youth, Billy was one heck of a fighter and he could be again.

"You're not worried about you own sister?!" Paul snapped at Jacob.

"That ain't it," Jacob defended himself. "I'm scared shitless about this. I don't like it one bit but I don't think we have a choice here. We could really use my dad's help. I don't know what else to do here."

Paul relaxed but was still really tense. I was keyed up too. This would be the closest to anyone who was completely human I'd ever been by myself since my change. The chance of me slipping was high, I knew that. But I also knew that I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I actually hurt Rachael.

It was decided with Sam and Jacob that we would try it the following evening since it was supposed to be overcast and we wouldn't have to worry about the sun. Sam would take Paul and Jared on patrol, while Jake would be in his garage. He could phase and be at Rachael's aid in mere seconds, not that it would be fast enough if the real crazy newborn side of me showed up instead of only the acting one I was supposed to show.

Alice had gotten me some red contacts. I needed my eyes to look even more scary, like I might have slipped. They were really annoying as my strong new vampire eyes could make out every imperfection on the concave disk and they really irritated my eyes too.

"You'll have about two hours, Charlie," Alice told me as I placed them in my eyes. "The venom in your eyes will eat them away after that so I suggest you get a move on."

"Suggest?" I questioned her.

"Remember, I have issues seeing those dogs."

"Alice," I warned with a scowling growl. I really hated when the Cullens made jokes about Jake and his friends.

She laughed, a huge peel of bells filling the room. "Sorry," she sang, "But really, you need to get a move on."

I ran at full speed to the border where I found Sam with Paul and Jared. Even as a wolf, I could tell that Paul still didn't like this. I wasn't crazy about it either but we needed to try something.

With my red eyes I all but ripped the door of the hinges as I stormed into the living room where Rachael was watching TV. I had to terrify her; that was the only way this would work. I would apologize later, if she and Billy ever let me, but now was the time to scare the shit out of her. The fake blood on my lips was Alice's idea and I had to admit was a good one even if it did taste and smell really nasty.

I blurred in front of her and sounded as menacing as I could. "Mmm," I tried to sound as terrifying as possible, "you look… delicious. Good enough to eat."

Rachael screamed in absolute terror, which I guess was the point. She knew I had become a vampire, almost everyone on the reservation did but she did not know that I had been out of the area for the last month.

"What's wrong Rach?" Billy asked as he walked in to the room. He panicked as he saw me and I saw him trembling, his arms looking like tuning forks.

I leaned in, trying as hard as possible not to breathe. One more act; that would be all it took to trigger Billy. So I leaned into the side of her neck and acted like I was breathing in her scent. It was very tempting, even though I wasn't trying to smell her. The heat radiating off her skin was unbearable. She was right here, not even a second separated her from my razor-like teeth. I could have her so easily. And her blood, it smelled sweeter than any of the animals I had hunted in the past. The most forbidden of forbidden fruits.

"Get away from my daughter!" Billy screeched as the vibrating intensified.

I leaned in closer to her and I began to smell her fear; the adrenaline increasing the temptation of her blood. Slowly I leaned in to her neck to plant my lips on them. "Or you'll do what, old man?" I asked, my voice sounding completely sterile. Come on Edward,I said in my mental voice hoping he was close enough to hear me. I was losing the battle for my thirst but I had to be strong enough to rule it, not have it rule me. Venom pooled in my mouth as I searched her neck, making sure there was no exposed cuts or scars where my venom might accidentally leech into her bloodstream or worse, I might actually taste her. That would have been too much. Fortunately there were none.

I planted my lips on her neck, giving her a little kiss. It worked.

With the sound of ripping fabrics, Billy's human body was replaced by a wolf, sandy brown with hints of white on the ends of his fur as he began snarling and barking at me.

"Sorry Billy," I pled hoping reason would soon return to him. I was all the way in front of the door as he stood between me and Rachael who was still hysterical. "It wasn't my idea, but we needed you."

"Dad stop," Jacob yelled as Billy leapt for my face. It was easy to put my arms up to defend my neck but it felt wrong. Billy was my friend and I scared him in the worse way possible to make him this.

Billy was snarling and snapping as he was trying to escape from Jacob's grasp put luckily Jacob's hold had almost as steady as mine would have been. "Sorry about that Rachael," I said to her as she was still panting from the terror I had no doubt caused her. "It wasn't exactly my idea though." I didn't want to say that a part of it had been my idea, just not the complete plan that we used.

Billy stopped his snarling as he looked around for someone. He looked at his son for a second with his head sideways before I almost swore I heard him calling for Edward in a growl.

"Sorry Billy," Edward said as he came into the living room from outside. "We were out of ideas on how to get you to phase again."

With a shimmer of heat, Billy pulled himself up on his hind legs and was replaced by his human form completely naked. "This was your idea?" Billy roared, his voice firm with authority.

"Dad it wasn't his-" Jacob started by was cut off by Billy.

"Shut it!" Billy commanded with an even greater air of authority in his voice. It reminded me of the way Seth had said how Jacob's orders were given to his pack, a certain double tinder booming with an echo.

Jacob trembled, either out of fear or obedience, I wasn't sure which but was sure he wouldn't be able to disobey. "Leech get out of here now!" It was the first time that Billy ever used one of their disparaging terms about me.

Edward looked remorseful, almost embarrassed that we had to use this deception on him. "Rachael, your fine. Charlie's record is still clean. Look." He said as he pointed towards me.

I fished the contacts out of my eyes exposing my eyes that were almost gold but not quite and Rachael understood. "You jerk!" She said as she smacked Jacob on the nose with the rolled up magazine she had been reading before my ruse. "Paul's gonna give it to you good later."

We all knew that Paul was in on it; he was aware of what we were going to do. But he would give Rachael anything she asked for, including kicking the crap out of Jacob later- or at least trying. And Jacob would probably take it if it got his dad off his case for a little bit.

"You better leave now Charlie," Billy snarled still in his human form but he was starting to tremble again. "And don't ever try me like that again."

"Really dad," Jacob said, "it was-"

"I TOLD YOU TO SHUT IT!" Billy snapped at his son again and Jacob cowered on the floor in submission. "If I have to tell you again," he added, Billy's tone slightly more calmed now, "you'll live to regret it."

By now, Edward and I were just about to the border with the Quileutes, but we could still hear Billy reading the riot act to Jacob. I was relieved that Rachael seemed to have calmed down. Maybe one of these days, I'd be able to make it up to her.

Once across the line, it was easier to slow to what would have passed for a human's quick walk. "Did we make a mistake there?" I asked. I hope he'd affirm that we hadn't.

"I'm not sure. Give Jacob a few hours to try and calm him down."

I was worried that this stupid plan may have forever alienated my best friend.

"He'll get over it," Edward said trying to calm me down.

"Alice?" I hoped he had found out from her.

He shrugged. "Jacob will do everything he can and that's probably going to include taking a few snips from Paul."

I hoped he was right because losing them as allies in this, our most desperate time of need would be horrible. Granted a few new arrivals were due the next morning and the Amazons were physically impressive, not to mention that Zafrina was immensely talented and that would be a great assistance, we still needed more help. So far, we knew of about twenty who were on the way, many of whom had adopted Carlisle diet or, at the very least would try it while they were here.

Just then, I started to feel weird. There was no other way to describe it. I was told that vampires never got sick, but I felt like I was about to throw up and then almost collapsed but Edward caught me before I could. Extreme nausea overtook me.

"Are you okay Charlie?" Edward asked. That was the last thing I remembered hearing before I lost consciousness.

AN: Uh-oh, what just happened to Charlie? Who has the ability to completely overpower a vampire like that? You'll find out next time, on the next exciting- sorry getting all of on my old '90s cartoon narrator's voice. Again, please let me know what you think.