Forty-Two

Emily was always uncomfortable now. Her feet were swollen so much that she had stopped wearing shoes and stuck to moccasins or flip flops, even though it had been raining straight for the last two weeks, and summer felt like a long-ago memory with the chill of fall in the air. Her ribs fizzled with pain from the baby growing and moving inside her. She was due in a couple of days, and because of her size, her doctor had warned that she could likely be induced if her natural labor didn't start soon. At least, she reasoned, the wolf-pack had repaired the front portion of her house from when Sam shifted in the kitchen.

Things could always be worse.

From her seat in the rocking chair on the porch, woven blanket wrapped tightly around her shoulders, she watched as Sam trained with the two newest wolves in the pack. Jack was sixteen, still coltish in his physique, but in the few short days that he had been working with Sam, he had already started to fill out like the other wolves. Tina, the other new wolf, had just turned eighteen, and she was barely five feet tall, a striking contrast to both Sam and Jack, who trained beside her. A female wolf in the pack was rare, as far as everyone knew, Leah had been the first, but Emily was glad that there was another female presence in the pack. As much as she loved Sam and his pack, there could be a harsh display of testosterone energy around her home at times, and she hoped that eventually Tina could mitigate that.

"…But why did we change now?" Tina asked, fending off a passing blow from Jack's closed fist. She dodged so well that Sam whooped in appreciation.

Emily heard Sam say, "The vampires in Forks have multiplied. The Cullen's added a new member to their coven. There's also been a lot of commotion with new vampires in the area lately."

"And it's our job to protect the tribe from these creatures?"

"Yeah," Tina noted. "I'd never head of the Cullen's before last week."

Sam explained, "They're a coven of vampires, Carlisle, the leader, was changed into a vampire in the sixteen-hundreds, the others are younger than him but just as strong. Vampires can be deadly. It's our job to protect the tribe from anything that might cause them harm."

"And we're not werewolves…?" Tina asked. There was a raw skepticism to her voice that always made Emily grin.

"No," Sam was firm. "We're very different than werewolves."

The distinction had always been strange to Emily. Sam, and the others in the Quileute tribe had inherited the gene that allowed them to transform into wolves. It was an ancient evolutionary reaction to the danger of vampires in the Pacific Northwest hundreds of years ago—a spontaneous mutation that set them apart from anything else on the planet. Werewolves, or Children of the Night, as she knew the Cullen's referred to them as, had once been human, but had been bitten, and forced to change into wolves, during the phases of the moon.

Jack interrupted, "My mom took my little sister to see Doctor Cullen a couple of years ago when she was sick. He was always really nice to us. We didn't have the money to pay the clinic and he told the desk nurses that he would pay the copay himself. He didn't have to do that for us. It doesn't seem like the actions of a killer, or the leader of a dangerous family."

Sam was resolute. "We don't attack unless provoked. True, the Cullen's haven't harmed us, but others—other vampires—have. We need to defend ourselves and protect the tribe no matter what."

Emily's phone rang. The sudden sound jolting her forward. She could see Sam react, instinctually, when she moved. Rolling her eyes, a bit, she waved off his concern. When she picked it up, she saw Billy Black's name flash on the screen.

"Hey, Billy."

"Hi Emily. How are you? Getting close to that due date, aren't we?"

Laughing, Emily said, "Yes. A couple more days, or so my doctor tells me. I thought the first one came early, so I honestly expected to see him here by now."

"I feel like the twins were early," Billy said, referring to his daughters, Rebecca and Rachel, "But when Jacob came, he was very late."

Sam eyed her from the lawn and Emily mouthed, 'Billy.'

"Hey, is Sam around?"

"Yeah," she replied. "He's training with Jack and Tina. Some of the other pack members left about an hour ago."

"Will you tell Sam that I need to see him? I'll be coming over soon."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes," there was some hesitation in Billy's voice. "Everything is fine. Just need to chat."

There were times, when Emily's left had undoubtably turned into a secretarial role. "Alright. I'll let him know your heading down here."

"Thanks."

Emily heard him hand up on the other end. "What did he want?" Sam asked, fending off a passing blow from Jack. His eyes darted to her, momentarily, and a secretive grin formed across his lips, before he returned his attention back to Jack and Tina.

"He's coming over."

Sam disabled Jack quickly, throwing him over his shoulder to land messily on the grass. Jack huffed out an annoyed breath at being bested but was clearly unhurt.

"Did he say why?"

Emily shook her head. "Nope."

Sam helped Jack up from the ground then ushered him away with a good-natured slap on the back, while Tina retreated up to the porch to say goodbye to Emily.

After Emily tried to stand, Tina stopped her. "Don't get up."

Emily relaxed, and Tina offered her a small hug, bending down to her in the rocking chair. "Thank you for everything," Tina said. "The dinner was so good. I can't remember the last time I had a home cooked meal."

"You're welcome," Emily offered, delighted with the compliment. She was still in her nesting phase, making sure the house was as organized as possible and waking up at midnight to bake loads of bread. All day she had let a crockpot of soup bubble in the kitchen, filling the tiny house with the smells of rosemary and chicken. When Jack and Tina came over, she presented them with full bowls of soup and large helpings of bread.

"All of this is so strange," Tina explained. "I had no idea about any of this a few weeks ago—that the tribe… that I had this gene."

Emily reached out for her hand. "I know. It can be a lot. For everyone involved. Sam and I are here for you."

"Thank you," Tina said genuinely. "I was wondering… well, Sam mentioned that there was another pack. A breakaway pack lead by Jacob Black, with another wolves, and he mentioned that there was another girl…"

Leah's face burst into Emily's mind. She and her cousin were speaking again, but it still felt so fragile. She didn't want to see Sam, Leah had told her as much, and Sam was obviously tiptoeing over the subject for Emily's benefit, by not naming her to Tina.

"There are others," Emily revealed. "It's a long story, though. Let's get you all trained up and able to shift easily before we get into that."

Tina nodded, but she seemed unsatisfied. "But you know who she is?"

Pausing, for the briefest of seconds, Emily nodded.

"It's just that I'm the only female in this pack, and the thoughts of all of these guys," Tina gestured to her head, her hand going inward, then her fingers bursting open, miming an explosion. "It's just that there is a lot of unnecessary testosterone, and it's overwhelming at times."

Emily laughed, despite herself. Although she wasn't a wolf itself, or subject to their telepathic rules, she could imagine what it might be like to listen to the brawling minds of so many young boys and men. She had often thought of Leah under those circumstances, and Sam had often remarked how difficult it was to shield his thoughts of her at times, despite how it must have hurt Leah to hear them. "I know, it can be hard sometimes."

"Well," Tina started, when it was clear that Emily wasn't going to say anything. "Maybe someday you'll tell me about that other pack."

Emily weighed the possibility as Tina meandered away across the porch and the moonlit grass on the front lawn. She knew that Sam didn't want either Jack or Tina to know about Jacob's pack, both for fear of defecting, a notion that Sam still felt guilty about, and the idea that Sam was somehow, not man enough to keep the wolves in line. He had always wanted to be as strong and revered as Billy Black. Many aspects of leadership came easy for Jacob, whereas Sam had to work harder at it.

She waved to Jack from the porch as he and Tina departed. Sam leapt up the stairs, two at a time, hyper and flushed from his earlier exertions. Pleased, too, she could tell, from how well the training was going.

"He didn't say why he was coming over?"

Sam dropped to his knees in front of her, wrapping his arms around her body and ruffing his cheek over the hard mound under her shirt. Emily reached out and fingered his damp hair.

"No, he didn't say," she said with a sigh.

"Any new pains in the last hour?" Sam asked. Like her, he was edgy that her labor could start at any moment.

Shaking her head, she told him. "Nothing unusual, but what do I know. I've never had a baby before."

"I'm nervous," he confessed. "I don't think I can handle seeing you in so much pain."

Emily was nervous too, but she would never tell Sam that. "Women have been having babies since the dawn of time. Focus on the excitement of getting to see them for the first time."

He stroked her abdomen, large hands splaying across the entire circumference. "Let's get you inside," he said, helping her up.

She waddled back into the house, she knew she was doing it, but it was the only way she could move around these days. Glancing at the calendar she said, "October 28th." It was something that she had started doing about a week ago. Naming the date. Wondering, each night if this was the day that her child's birthday would fall on.

"October 28th," Sam affirmed. It was already dark outside. Probably not today, then. "Tomorrow is…"

"—Leah's birthday," she finished for him.

They looked at each other. No suspicion, just understanding.

"Happy Birthday, Leah," Sam said. "You don't have to tell her that I said it, but I do mean it, just the same."

"All these Scorpio's in your life."

"Scorpio women," he corrected, approaching her again. Toucher her in a way that always brought her to calmness.

"And a Scorpio boy," she suggested.

Sam kissed the tip of her nose. "It's a girl, you'll see."

Paul Lahote barged in without knocking. "We're here."

Sam sighed, tucking a strand of hair across the top of Emily's ear. "How could we have missed it?"

The squeak of Billy Black's wheelchair followed Paul's rude arrival. "Sam," he greeted, followed by a softer, "Emily."

Emily broke away from Sam's embrace, maneuvering over to hug Billy as best she could in the advanced state of her pregnancy.

"Beautiful," Billy reassured, when she awkwardly pulled away.

Sam spoke up, "That's what I keep telling her."

"Stop," Emily protested, feeling her cheeks redden.

"Can we get on with it?" Paul said testily. His tone made the energy of the room shift and Sam pulled Emily behind him.

"What's going on?"

Paul was pacing now, agitated and on edge. He was barefoot, with a black wifebeater stretched over taught muscles. Something was jangling inside the pockets of his shorts.

"Rachel needed some space," Billy explained, "So Paul is spending some time with me for a few days."

Sam's defenses rose up, "What happened?"

Emily tensed as well, knowing, full well, what could have happened.

"Rachel is fine," Billy reassured them.

"Of course, she's fine," Paul noted. "I would never hurt her. I love her."

Billy cut in, "Be that as it may, Rachel needed some space, so Paul will be going where I go, for the time being."

Objecting, Paul spat, "I'm not a child."

Sam took a step toward him. "No one said you were, Paul."

Emily was surprised that Sam hadn't said anything about this. He had access to Paul's mind, he must have heard something over the last few days.

"I have news," Billy added, changing the subject.

Emily wandered into the kitchen, adding coffee grounds to the top of the pot and starting the brew.

Sam and Paul retreated to the kitchen table. Before continuing Billy noted, "It looks really nice in here. The boys fixed the wall up fine. No one would ever know that the whole front of the house was knocked down a few weeks ago."

"Tina helped," Sam noted. He knew that Emily disliked when she was grouped in with 'the boys.'

"Of course," Billy said, turning toward Emily for her benefit.

Emily poured two cups of coffee, offering one to Billy first, then to Paul. She knew that Sam didn't like caffeine this late at night. After she turned away from Paul, Sam gestured for her to come closer to him, and she did.

"What news do you have, Billy?" Sam asked, taking Emily's hand. She felt his callused fingers stroke the inside of her wrist as she sat down beside him at the table.

Billy's eyes slide over to Emily.

"She can stay," Sam insisted. "Anything you say Emily can hear."

Billy didn't look pleased, but he continued, regardless. "Firstly, it seems that the new vampire—the young boy, who defected from the Volturi, is likely to remain a permanent residence in Forks."

Emily knew from Sam what the Volturi was. An ancient sect of vampires who resided in Italy, governing the world of vampires with unbreakable laws.

Paul spoke up, "It was because of him that we got two new converts."

Convert was Paul's nickname for new wolves, referring to Jack and Tina.

"That's right," Billy confirmed. "His age likely determined how many wolves changed. It's my understanding that he's over a thousand years old. Had he been a younger vampire he may not have warranted two."

Sam shook his head, reassuring, "We'll handle it. If this new vampire stays, we'll handle it. The Cullen's wouldn't allow a creature to live with them who broke with their way of living. This new vampire has not harmed us, or caused any injury to the tribe or any of the surrounding areas. As long as they continue to keep to themselves, I don't see a need to retaliate and break the treaty."

Billy leaned back in his wheelchair, hands grasping tightly to the handles, despite his laid back demeaner. "I've also heard that a member of the Alaska coven—a sister coven to the Cullen's—has left their way of life to join the Volturi overseas."

"What does that have to do with us?" Sam questioned.

Paul slammed his fist on the table top, making Emily jump. "It has to do with us because it proves how changeable they can be. Just because they say they don't kill humans doesn't mean there's truth to that, at all."

"Calm down, Paul."

Emily watched as Sam stood up, creating a barrier between herself and Paul.

"Shut up, Sam. I'm not going to hurt your precious wife."

Billy was brisk, "Don't talk to your alpha like that."

Cowed, Paul sat back in his chair, crossing his arms across his chest. "Sorry," he said, rolling his eyes.

"I'm not going to make decisions based on 'what if' scenarios. If one of the Cullen's hurts or feeds on a human we are prepared to act. I will not be the one to break this treaty though." Sam sat back down, taking Emily's hand again. She squeezed it reassuringly.

"I understand your position," Billy began, "But we have to start thinking about the hybrid—what is her name?" He added, turning to Paul.

"Rapunzel," Paul declared, sharply. Spitting the name from his mouth like a curse.

Emily knew that wasn't right but she didn't speak up to correct anyone.

Billy raised an eyebrow, clearly still unsure about what the girls name was. "Regardless, the longer she's allowed to stay here the more of a risk she'll become. She never should have been allowed to be born, her very presence proves that the treaty was broken. As long as she remains, she'll be a beacon to other of her kind. A curiosity. A magnet to bring other dangerous creatures to our land."

Emily spoke up, "What about the ancient laws? No harm can come to a person that wolf has imprinted on."

Sam squeezed her fingers, too tight for comfort, warning her somehow.

"The law," Billy concluded, "Is based on a person, a human. What that girl is, is not human. Any law that might apply to her is sacrosanct."

Emily didn't agree, but Sam's warning touch told her to stay quiet.

Sam asked, "What is it that you want us to do?"

Paul didn't wait for Billy to answer. "We have to kill her. Dispose of the problem."

Emily couldn't help but speak. "She's just a child. Barely a teenager. She's no danger, I was just—" Sam's hand stopped her.

"You were just… what?" Billy asked.

Sam answered for her, "She went to the Swan house to watch Seth's game with Sue and Leah. Bella and Renesmee were both there."

"You willingly spent time with a vampire and a spawn?" Paul pestered, his posture and tone clearly disgusted.

"I don't see it that way," Emily countered.

"It was a family event," Sam pressed. "Sue and Leah and Charlie were all there."

Emily went on, "You and Charlie still see each other, Billy. Renesmee is Charlie's granddaughter. How could you suggest such a thing?"

"Easily," Paul spat. "She never should have been allowed to live in the first place."

"The law," Sam began, his voice calm, trying to diffuse the tension of the situation.

Billy interrupted him. "Jacob has left the pack. It is not easy for me to admit that, but it's true. He is barely a part of the tribe. I have not seen or spoken to him in months."

"All the more reason to bridge this gap," Sam went on. "Heal these wounds. The Cullen's are not a threat to us. I admit, they do tend to harbor dangerous and fugitive vampires, but they themselves are not a danger to us. Bella and Edward's daughter has not posed a threat. She lives in the community, and she goes to the community school. Her death or disappearance would be noticed. A highly visible action such as that would be bad for the tribe. We don't kill," he finished, "We protect."

Paul was shaking with rage. "Nothing good has happened here since she was born. Those vampires—the Volturi—will come back. Stronger vampires. Older vampires. Vampires enough to destroy the tribe, and wipe the town of Fork's off the map. Are you saying you want to be the Alpha in charge when that happens?"

"If you don't calm down, Paul. I'll force you out of this house." Sam insisted.

"Yes," Billy echoed. "Calm down, Paul."

Paul sat back in his chair, downing the cup of steaming coffee in one chug before laying it, gently back onto the table top.

"There's something else, isn't there?" Sam asked.

"Funny you should guess," Paul yawned, folding his arms across his chest and leaning back hard in his chair. Emily heard the floor scratch against the legs.

Billy looked down, centering himself, then said, "Morgan Etsitty."

Emily recognized the name. Like Billy, Morgan Etsitty was on the council of elders for the tribe.

Sam asked, "What about Morgan Etsitty?"

Billy didn't answer, and his silence prompted Paul to continue. "There's been talk. The council knows about all of the changes with the Cullen's. That hybrid, and the new vampire who joined them. She's been saying that it's time for Billy to step away."

Emily was sure Sam wouldn't naturally object to the notion of a women being his new chief, but she saw him tense up and take in a sharp intake of breath.

Paul went on, "She's blaming Billy's diabetes and his age on needing to take over."

"I think they're the same age," Emily objected.

"Whatever," Paul added testily. "The point is, we have to clean up the situation with the Cullen's, otherwise Morgan Etsitty will become chief and everything will change."

"I can't condone killing innocent people," Sam concluded.

"They're not people, Sam. They aren't alive."

"Renesmee is. She lives and breathes. She's not a full vampire."

Emily recalled something she had heard from Leah. "I think the Cullen's are leaving."

"What do you mean?" Sam clarified.

"Leah said something about Edward and Bella and the rest of the Cullen's leaving. She heard it from Sue. Charlie told her. Bella told them they were leaving soon."

Sam looked to her for confirmation, then turned back to Billy and Paul. "That solves it then. With the Cullen's gone all of this will go away. We may not need to turn again."

"We'll always need to turn again," Billy objected. "Maybe not this generation, but the next." He pointed at Emily's stomach. "Your children. Their children. To let them live is to forever risk the destruction of the tribe."

"I can't believe you're saying this," Sam went on. "I never thought I would ever hear you say anything like this. Are you truly concerned for the tribe or are you scared for your current leadership position?"

"A woman can't lead us," Paul said, insulted.

Emily looked away.

"A killer shouldn't lead us," Sam countered.

Emily looked back at Sam, her whole-body filling with pride. They were all at a stalemate now, she could see it. Billy had made his points, and Paul was clearly on his side. And Sam had made his.

After a long pause, Billy said, "If this is your choice, if you choose not to act, you will be disobeying the request of your chief."

"If you do this, Billy. If you go through with what you are suggesting. You will be killing the women that your son loves. You will be destroying any chance that Jacob has in this life of being happy. You are saying that life in not worth protecting when it's different than yours."

"I've made my decision," Billy said. "I must act in the best interests of the tribe."

"I see," Sam said with finality. "Let me show you both out."