So we made over 500 followers the other day and so I forced myself to sit down and actually finish this chapter.
"How are you?" Edward asked, leaning against the doorframe as he watched the witch bustle around her makeshift study and room.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" she countered without even looking up from the book that she was studying. "It's your wife and child." He was glad that she wasn't looking because it gave him the freedom to flinch and blanch without her pitying looks. He had enough of them from every other family member except Rosalie.
"She's your cousin," he told her and she snorted, a sound of disgust - though whether it was at him, herself of the cousin in question, he didn't know.
"Yeah, my cousin." She sighed and shook her head, dropping the book she'd been reading onto the table. "She's family and I should be supporting her in her decision, finding a way for everything to be okay but I'm not, I wasn't! I waltzed into that room, sat down next to her and said kill the baby or else."
"You didn't say that."
"Well, I might as well have," she hissed, tugging on her hair. "And the thing is, that wasn't the point I was trying to get across! I sat down and talked to her because I wanted to get into her mindset, see how the baby was affecting her and if there was another outcome but just seeing her so sick and in pain made all this anger bubble up and erupt for that thing she calls a baby! Until I know it isn't a danger to her and anyone else, that baby will only be a problem in my eyes." Tears trickled down her cheeks at her final declaration and Edward tentatively moved closer to offer comfort. "Why am I so heartless?"
"You were in a war, Hermione," he offered. "It changes perspectives. Without the war, you would've sat with and discussed children names and planned a nursery with only the slightest worry of the risks. With the war, you are aware of dangers that crop up out of nowhere. Your senses are wizened. It doesn't make you heartless."
"Was that Hermione shouting?" Bella asked, looking to Esme who had been brushing her hair. Esme nodded, making a confirmation noise but not offering anything else. "What was it about? What did she say?"
"She's worried about you," she offered, placing the brush on the table beside Bella's resting place and running her fingers through the limp locks. "She hates herself for how she handled things earlier."
"It's okay," Bella breathed, her eyes drooping as her body relaxed with Esme's movements. "I understand. She wants what's best for her family. It's a good trait to have."
"It is indeed."
"I guess we're lucky that Sam won't dare try and attack now," Paul chatted as the foursome made their way to 'Leech Land'. "He's lost too many of us and we're wild cards at the moment, a factor that he has to now consider."
"His original plan definitely can't be used. Especially since we were all parts of it," Jacob concurred. "We're only delaying the inevitable, however."
"But we are getting more time," Seth interjected. "Maybe it will help them in the long run. They can find out more about the baby and maybe set up a new home somewhere else."
"But you heard Sam, Seth," Leah said. "Sam's not going to let this baby be shoved onto anyone else. He'll hunt them down. They'll have to prove that it isn't going to hurt anyone before he backs off."
"So, we have to prove that it won't hurt anyone," Seth declared. Leah projected herself rolling her eyes and Seth sulked at his sister.
"Have you seen what that thing is doing to Bella?" Leah snarked. "It's killing her from the inside out! It's dangerous and that is clear as day."
Whilst the two siblings bickered, Paul chased closer to Jacob and gave him a playful nudge in the shoulder, gaining his attention fully. "You okay?" he asked, not expecting an answer and therefore not disappointed when he didn't get one. "We'll get through this," he vowed.
"Leah's right," Jacob admitted around a sigh, jumping over a fallen log. "This baby of hers is killing her. That means it's dangerous, which means that it could be a lot worse than we think. That could mean that we made the wrong decision and Sam would be right which proves that I'm definitely not cut out for this Alpha shit."
"Don't say that," Paul argued, dashing around a tree. The smell of vampire was getting stronger and it would be only minutes before they were on their land fully, no regard for the treaty line and solely on enemy soil. "You and I both know that we could never have stood by and allowed it to happen."
"If you hadn't imprinted on Hermione then you would still be there, raring up for a good fight!" Jacob growled. Paul growled back in annoyance, hackles raised.
"But that's the difference! I did imprint on Hermione and she changed my point of view, clearly, for the better! She's close to the Cullens and therefore I've had to put up with them in some respect."
"You're happy with how this imprint has changed you? It's outrageous!"
"The Cullens aren't that bad. If that means Hermione - the woman that we both care for - has changed me, then so be it."
"Wahey! I knew someone would come around to my side of thinking," Seth cheered and both Paul and Jacob realised that their conversation hadn't been ignored. Paul glared at his Alpha before putting on a burst of speed and ignoring everyone else until they had passed the treaty line.
"I'll map out our own space, making it known. With the time that we have and the amount of wolves we've got, it won't be a lot."
"Seth, head out with Paul," Jacob ordered. "Leah, you're with me. We'll let the Cullens know what's gone down." With the dismissal, the silver wolf bounded away, Seth heading in the opposite direction. "Paul, I'm so-"
"Don't bother," Paul interrupted. "You've made your feelings pretty clear."
Jacob turned to look at the last remaining wolf with him and the all too innocent look on her face hinted to how she was trying not to say anything. He knew that anything she'd have to say wouldn't make him feel any better.
"Get it over with," Jacob demanded.
"You're an absolute asshole. That's all I have to say."
"I accept that."
The two ran towards the house in silence, their minds also blissfully quiet with Paul and Seth running their first patrol in silence too. When the house - could it really be called that? - came into sight, a familiar scent tickled Jacob's senses and he internally frowned. As they grew even closer to the Cullen's residence, Edward came out to meet them. He looked worse than the last time he'd been here.
"Wow," Leah breathed. "He looks shit."
Edward snorted, shaking his head at her words and stuffed his hands in his pockets. He resembled a human whose wife was heavily pregnant. The familiar scent was even stronger now that he'd got closer and he could almost name whose it was. A glance at the window had him making sense of it all.
"Leah, cover patrols for Paul."
"What? We've only just got here!" He growled at her and she growled back but stepped away and left regardless. Paul turned back and headed towards the house though he didn't say anything about the sudden change in plans.
"Do you fancy something to eat?" Edward offered awkwardly. "Seems like you've been through hell these past few hours."
Jacob transformed back into his nude self and snorted. "You have no idea." Edward threw some clothes in his direction before he was able to take a step towards the house and he looked at them with confusion. "What the hell are these?"
"They're clothes, Jacob," Edward answered. "Esme wanted you to have them. I heard you a while ago and explained what was happening. She feels awful that you all gave up your life for us. You're effectively homeless."
"Hadn't considered that," Jacob shrugged. "So she gives me clothes to rectify my lack of a home?"
"Nah," Edward denied. "She gives you the clothes because she knows that none of us really want to see that." Jacob coughed awkwardly, having forgotten that he wasn't clothed since the change was so natural to him.
"Worried I'd steal your girl?"
"She seems pretty satisfied with what I have," Edward teased.
"That's what got us into this problem," Jacob countered but shoved his legs through the jeans regardless, not bothering to throw the top on and instead leaving it on the steps. "What's she doing here?" he asked abruptly, changing the conversation effectively. "This is no place for her."
"She'd argue that. She's been in worse situations."
"She has no idea what she's going up against! She could get herself killed!"
"Are you going to tell her this in person? If so, I do not envy that conversation, although I'm glad I'd be able to hear it from miles away unless she puts up a silencing spell."
Jacob glared at the leech but couldn't help but wonder if that was a conversation he should go without. She was a really fiery witch and she had been in a war, hated being dubbed weak because she was female and she'd hate it even more if it came from him.
"Good thinking," Edward commented. "You've got a visitor." The wolf looked up in confusion, catching sight of this brown blur before he was knocked back a step.
"Jake! Oh my God! Jake!" Hermione babbled and he wrapped his arms around her in comfort. "I have no idea what's going on but with you being here it gives me some more comfort. Where's Paul?" She pulled back and looked at him, gazing into his eyes as if she could read his mind. They'd had the conversation about her spells and skill set and he knew that she could if she wanted to. "He didn't stay with Sam, so where is he?"
"How do you know that he didn't stay with Sam?"
"Paul wouldn't do that," she gritted out and he stepped back, palms up in a surrendering gesture. "So where is he?" Just as she asked it, a silver wolf bounded out of the woods and stuttered to a shocked stop. "I knew it," she breathed, before shoving Jacob out of the way and running away from the house and in Paul's direction.
The wolf trotted forward but seeing her speedy reaction to getting to him, he sped up too until they met in the middle. Once he got close enough, instead of bowling his imprint over, he transformed mid-stride and their bodies collided in a hug, tumbling to the ground laughing.
Edward smiled; with Paul here, maybe Hermione would chill out and not take everything to heart.
There are some extreme plot twists coming up that could have you all shouting at me. I just want to say that these plot twists have been the whole reason I started writing this story and it isn't something that I just threw in for the sake of it.