This time the music is a compilation called "Unhappier" by an account with the same name. Beautiful collection of songs. Maybe I should stop listening to sad songs.
Jacob recounted everything that happened since going to the movies. He found out his old friends Quill and Embry went AWOL because Sam ordered it and said reconciling with them was bittersweet because he became a wolf too, which meant he couldn't hang out with me or anyone else anymore. Become seperate from the world, (and a freak as he put it).
"Keep the secret. I know."
"I tried to tell them you were trustworthy, that I knew you could keep a secret, but..."
"No pale faces," I said.
"I didn't want to tell him you knew about vampires. I wasn't sure sure how he'd take that. Not that I was sure the Cullens we're vampires then,"
"Oh. Thanks for looking out for me."
"I'd sometimes run to your house, watch from outside, make sure you were ok. I saw you, how you were falling back to how you used to be. I wanted to tell you everything, say I was sorry- I'm sorry for hurting you like he did. I really didn't want to. I swore I wouldn't, and I broke that promise,"
His apology was severe and surprising. But it also almost soothed the pain of being abandoned again.
"It's ok. I know you didn't meant to."
He told me about the good parts about being wolf, how play with his friends in wolf form was different. We laughed like we were teenagers just hanging out, again.
He explained to me the hierarchy since it might come in handy.
"Being the first to shift, Sam became the alpha. His only power is his commands but it's effective. His right hand is Paul. He's awfully loyal. Out of all of us, he loves being a wolf the most. Watch out for him. He has uncontrollable anger and he's unpredictable."
"But everyone is someone to watch out for, no? If Sam commanded it..." Jake looked down. Even he would have to obey.
"But I don't understand. Shouldn't you be the alpha, regardless of who was first to shift? Ephraim Black was the alpha of the last pack, wasn't he?"
"Yeah, I should be alpha. But I didn't want it. I really didn't want any of this if it meant I couldn't be with you, Bella," He said.
"Jacob..."
"I love you, Bella. I really do."
"Jake, don't-"
"I know that he got his claws in deep, but I hope to heal the wounds, and that you'll you look at me differently one day.
I missed you a lot. Got on everyone's last damn nerves." He laughed. "There's a hive mind when you join a pack, so they could hear and see everything in my head. I can see into theirs too. They were so sure I'd spill the beans somehow-" He stopped smiling. He completely froze.
"What is it, Jacob?" I asked, completely forgetting what I was feeling and going to say to him.
"They're here, all of them, and the elders. Sam isn't happy. " He turned to the opening of the living room, arm stretched out. Breathing heavily, I stood up and moved closer to him. I feel guilty for taking his help, at that it was his love for me that moved him to go this far. Stupidly so. I don't think I can-
The door was practically busted open. Growls erupted from there.
"Jacob." As soon as I heard his voice, I hated him. It was him. The ruiner of my sun.
They came in, Sam and the rest of the pack. Jacob and I had to move all the way back so they could fill the living room. They were huge! They all turned to look at me. Sam stared at the hand I laid protectively over my belly.
"You really did it now, Jacob!" Someone said happily. He shook with glee that Jacob had gotten himself in deep trouble. Paul, I guessed.
"I can't believe she messed around with a vampire! You really know how to pick em!"
"Paul!"
"Shut up, Paul!" Sam and Jacob shouted simultaneously.
"Relax, Jacob. We're only here to talk." Sam said.
"I heard them," Jake said. "They're already sure of the outcome,"
"What they think doesn't matter. No one will do anything until the elders decide and I command it." Jacob stared with furrowed eyebrows, like his words were trustworthy even if he didn't like him. Or were they talking in their minds?
"Bella, I'm Sam Uley,"
"Nice to meet you. I'd shake your hand, but..." His gaze had already moved back to my belly.
"Right... The elders are behind us. They'd like to speak with you. The others will wait outside. It'll just be us and them." He said. I noticed how he didn't at all want to make me believe 'it was okay'. It's a distinctively me and them situation.
The wolves left and were replaced with the elders, all of them were graying, who sat on the mismatch couches and chairs. Billy was there- he introduced them all. One was Harry Clearwater, a friend of Charlie's. Some others were relatives of the pack members-but it was Sam's grandfather, Levi, who was in charge.
They stared at where I sat, on the one armchair, Jacob looming over me.
"It's worth mentioning that Bella and Jacob are childhood friends, and she's my best friend's daughter," Billy said.
"It's understandable you'd like a positive outcome, but this concerns the reservation. There isn't too many of us left and we thought the wolves were gone for good. If what she's carrying is one of them, it puts our entire existence in danger," Levi Uley said.
"Not only that, but we have to decide if it's a violation of the treaty. Directly or indirectly." another old man said.
"Treaty?" I asked, looking at Jacob. The Cullens don't come here, he said last year.
"It's the agreement the vampires made with the pack from back then that allowed those vampires to stay." Someone said.
"They would never set foot here, or us there. And they wouldn't feed on anyone or turn anyone. Neither side would interfere with each other," Billy explained.
Then if the wolves are here, the Cullens couldn't return? Would they be barred because I was pregnant?
"They kept that promise. They never hurt me and they only hunted animals." I said. It was like they didn't hear me at all.
"Do you know why they left?" Levi asked. Maybe I should have expected that question.
"No. I really don't." I said stiffly.
"They just planted their seed and left?"
"No! As far as they knew, it was impossible to have children. They would have liked it if they could, but they knew it was impossible."
"With each other, but not with a human,"
"No. I'm saying they knew it was impossible, period. I don't know why they left." I repeated.
"Did you tell them you were pregnant?" Harry Clearwater asked.
"They don't know. They didn't leave a point of contact, so they won't ever know."
I checked out the card Alice left at the bank. It was filled with $5,000 and had a transfer of 2,000 scheduled for every month. I asked if I could transfer some back with a note and they said no. It was just a gift card. I was deflated at that, but was sure Alice had her reasons. She had to sneak her gift back into my room after all. I had to stop thinking about it. It made me so angry that Edward had forbidden them to stay and keep in contact.
"Then they aren't coming back," Harry Clearwater said, looking at the others.
"Shouldn't we see this as a breach of contract, regardless?" Another man said. Others hummed in agreement.
"You can't. It wasn't part of the original agreement, so there's no point or clause that was infringed upon. It seems like you want to use this as an excuse to fight with them," I continued. If I had to sort of become the Cullens' advocate to protect them, I would.
"They left you behind. Why are you so concerned with them if they could care less about you?" I swallowed hard.
"Edward was the only one who didn't care." I corrected. "Carlisle is a good man. He has been, to me, my dad, and the town of Forks. He isn't some monster pretending to be human. He is human. They all denied their nature just so they could stay part of this world!"
"Either that's the truth and you're biased, Or they played you like a fool." He retorted.
"Mr.Uley," Jacob started.
"We're here to decide if you'll let Jacob and Billy help me- if Billy will help," I glanced at him and he was stone-faced.
"That was all I wanted from Billy. I'm going to give birth soon and I need help delivering safely, somewhere to hide until it's time."
"But we don't know what you're carrying,"
"Then figure it out! Get an ultrasound! If you see it's a baby, will you leave me alone?!" I screamed. Jacob gripped my shoulder and hand.
"No matter what, you have to remember where your loyalties belong," Billy said. I looked at Sam. He looked serious, stared at Jacob intensely.
"We should make some calls, get a technician here who knows to look at her," Billy continued.
"I understand that she's your friend's daughter-"
"Then you understand I'll do what I can for her,"
"Even you are subjected to the decision of the council," Billy and Levi spat.
"I'm aware. The decision should wait, still, until Bella is examined and deemed healthy. She's clearly in need of medical attention." Billy said. There was a moment of silence.
"Someone turned to us for help. Regardless of the circumstances, as parents we should take pity and do what can until there's nothing we can do.
We take pride in being honorable people, so we should act like it and do the right thing while she's here. Would be hypocritical if we wronged her after judging the Cullens." Harry said.
Does Harry remember me from my childhood? Was at least a third of the council on my side?
"In the end, she's a child. Heavily pregnant and alone." a pitying man said.
"She did the right thing and left home."
Half of the group grumbled unhappily and the other half agreed with Harry and Billy. Even if he favored me, his words were just factual.
"Don't try to hide her from us, Billy." Levi warned.
I was relieved when they all left. Sam couldn't do anything about Jacob staying with me since I was staying at his house. I leaned back against the chair as Jacob ran to get a cold towel for my forehead. I had started sweating had started in the middle of that.
"Billy,"
"I really wish it wasn't you." He said, like I needed anymore guilt. He pushed himself to his bedroom. Jacob placed the towel on my head and told me to wait while he helped his dad into bed.
"Did you mind read each other?" I asked him when he came back.
"With Sam? No. I was blocking him out. He was digging, but I was able to see that Quil and Embry we're on my side. Hopefully they can help. Sam was mostly telling them to shut up because they weren't letting him listen." He laughed. I tried to laugh too.
"Are you tired? Sleep time for the human?" He said with a smirk. I grimaced, looking down as I pushed myself off the chair.
"Yeah."
This part was cool but I had to cut it out. Almost didn't add Harry Clearwater. The members of the council isn't exact, but I can't dig out the New Moon guide from where it's been the last 3 years.
"To me you're a victim."
"...I'm not, Jake. It was consensual." I felt like it was cruel to mention I had sex with someone else after he practically confessed. But I wasn't going to let him believe anything else or lie to himself.
"It's not that. It's that he left you, pregnant. Whether he knew or not, I still hate him."
I wanted to bring up what he was telling me, but I was afraid of what it would lead to. If we would fight. If he would leave.
And this is the vibe I wanted Harry to have-turns out I added a piece after reading through this chapter.
"Someone turned to us for help. Regardless of the circumstances, as parents we should take pity and do what can until there's nothing we can do. The Quileutes always accepted anyone who wanted to be part of our community. So as the council, we should see to it that Bella gets medical care and a place to stay."