"What's going on here?" Edward asked.
Selene and Emmett looked at Edward, "Nothing."
"What are they doing here?"
"Well, as you can see, I'm eating a sandwich, and my sister is watching a movie with her boyfriend," Leah said.
"Besides, can't you read minds, Edward? I thought you would have figured it out by now," Selene said.
Edward's eyes widen as he focused on Emmett's thoughts, "You two live here now?!"
Emmett smiled and hugged Selene, "Yeah, isn't it great!"
"NO!"
Emmett growled low in his chest, "Why not?"
"Wolves are dangerous," Edward said.
Selene and Leah looked at each other when Leah came into the living room and laughed, "To who," They said at the same time.
"To Bella, especially Leah."
Leah gave her sister an incredulous look, "I'm sorry do you know me? I don't think you and I have ever met."
"I don't have to know you, I've read Jacob's mind, and you don't like Bella."
Leah scoffed, "Nobody likes Bella, dude."
Emmett snorted, and Edward glared at his brother, "But you especially have something against her," Edward said.
"Oh, no, why would I have something against her? Just because of her, our dad was in the woods hunting the wolves, was attacked by that crazy red-haired bitch, and had a heart attack and died? Why would I have anything against her?" Leah asked sarcastically.
"But instead of going off what you saw in Jacob's mind why don't you read mine," Leah said.
"I've been trying to for the last five minutes, and I can't get anything as I can't with your sister," Edward said.
"Huh? Must be a Clearwater thing." Leah said and smirked at her sister, and Selene grinned at her. Emmett and the others looked between the two sisters, confused.
"Either way, I don't want you here."
"Well, isn't that just tough shit, Eddie. Leah and Selene live here now," Emmett said.
"We'll see-"
"There's nothing to see, Edward, I decided that the girls can live here and everyone agreed, you've been outvoted. You're going to have to get used to it. Selene and Leah are not a threat to Bella. Isn't that right, girls," Carlisle said as he came down the stairs.
"Of course not, Carlisle. We may not like her, but that doesn't mean we're going to hurt her," Selene said, and Leah nodded.
Edward gave the Clearwater girls a doubtful look.
"And just because you can't you read our minds, Eddie Boy doesn't make it any less true," Leah said.
Edward huffed and went upstairs to unpack and then went hunting by himself.
Jasper looked at Leah and Selene, "How are you blocking Edward from reading your minds."
Selene and Leah looked at each other, "Trade secrets, my son," Selene said with a wink.
Jasper stared at Selene for a second, then chuckled, "Fair enough."
Meanwhile, in La Push, Sam was had become very clingy to Emily. At first, it annoyed Emily since she couldn't get anything done, but after Sam told her what his vision had been about, Emily stayed as close to him as she could. It got to the point that Jared decided to excuse Sam from any patrol duty so that he could spend time with Emily.
Since Sam was no longer Alpha of the pack, the responsibility of feeding no longer fell to Emily, but she had told Jared that she would do it anyway; Emily enjoyed mothered the pack members anyway. Kim said to Emily that she would help Emily since it was Jared that was Alpha now, and it was only fair that she takes on that responsibility as well.
"Thank you, Kim, I appreciate the help," Emily told the younger woman.
"My pleasure, Emily. I'm sorry about what happened to Sam."
"It's okay, Kim, I deserved it," Sam said as he came downstairs, "What I did was unforgivable, and the Elders were right to take away my status. I put my ego ahead of a pack member and ran her off. What does that say about me as a leader if I can't handle someone resisting a command because she was protecting her mate," Sam said.
Kim nodded. She understood that it meant that he was too weak to lead, and Sam knew it also, "What are you going to do about Selene?"
"Ask for her forgiveness and see if she'll come back, but I doubt it," Sam said.
"About which part," Kim asked.
"Honestly, both. Selene has no reason to forgive me, and now that she's with Emmett, why would she leave him now?"
"And Leah?"
"There's no way Leah will come back without her sister," Jared said as he walked in the door with the rest of the pack.
He kissed Kim then shook Sam's hand, "How are you feeling, Sam?"
"Better, I still feel a little nervous being too far from Emily, but it's less than before."
"Take as much time as you need."
"Where's Paul?"
"He'll be here in a bit. He and Quil went on patrol. Paul didn't want to be alone, and Quil thought it would be better that either he or I will be with him for a while since we're the only ones that have imprints," Jared said.
"Maybe I should go too," Sam suggested.
"I don't think that's a good idea; you'll only feed off each other's fear," Jared commented.
Sam thought about it and agreed. He hadn't thought about that. Jared was turning out to be a good Alpha, after all.
A little while later, Quil and a very quiet Paul came into the house for lunch. Kim and Emily laid out some fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and biscuits for the boys to eat. The boys all sat down to eat, and Quil left a space open for Paul to sit down next to him. Jared and Kim agreed to not be affectionate in front of Paul and had asked Sam and Emily not to either. It was only rubbing salt in Paul's wound that he still had no idea who his imprint was.
The boys were laughing and joking around as they ate, but Paul sat there, methodically ate his meal without looking at anyone. When he finally did look up from his plate, Paul looked at Jared, "Has anyone heard from Selene or Leah?"
Silence fell over the pack. Jared swallowed his food and looked at Paul, "Sue said that Selene and Leah called yesterday and said that they were staying with the Cullens."
Paul nodded, "Do you think I could go over to apologize to Selene and Emmett?"
"I wouldn't just yet, Paul. I'm sure Selene is still pretty angry with you." Jared suggested, "Give her some time, but remember what I told you."
Paul stared at Jared and nodded, then he went back to eating. Jake looked at Paul and patted him on the back, "He forget her, she's wrong; her leech had no right to be on our land."
"Jake," Jared said in a warning tone.
"What? Just because you're the new alpha doesn't mean I have to listen to you, Jared. I'm the grandson of Ephraim Black, the rightful alpha."
The minute Jake took that tone with Jared; Jake started weakening, and he fell out of the chair, his head started pounding, and Jake began to go into convulsions, "Jake!" Embry yelled.
"Don't touch him!" Jared yelled.
"He's in pain, Jared, we have to help him," Quil said.
"We can't; The Elders said that he couldn't challenge me for Alpha, because he was stripped of his right. They also said that every time he tried, he would be punished. This must be what they meant."
Everyone looked at Jared wide-eyed, "Are you serious?"
"They told me later it was a punishment from the gods. I didn't think they meant literally."
After a while, the convulsions stopped, and Jake looked up at Jared and apologized. The minute those words came out of his mouth, his strength returned, and Jake started feeling better, "That was weird, dude. Why did it stop?"
"There was a voice in my head that said to apologize to Jared, and the pain would stop. How did you do that, Jared?"
"I didn't do anything! It was a punishment from the gods."
"What gods?!"
"Our ancestor's gods, I guess," Embry mused, "Old Quil said he talked to the ancestors."
"I thought that was bullshit," Jake said.
"Watch it, Jake, that's my grandpa," Quil warned.
"Apparently, not," Sam added.
Jared sighed, "Regardless of where these punishments are coming from, are you going to listen now, Jake?"
"Do I have a choice."
"Yeah, you can continue to be an asshole and suffer the consequences," Paul said with a smirk.
"Shut up, Paul."
Paul laughed, "Well, I feel better. At least I know I'm not the only one suffering." He said then started eating with more enthusiasm.
"Let's finish our meal and get back out there," Jared suggested.
Later that day, when Jake's patrol was over, he called Bella and asked if she wanted to come over and spend the day with him. Bella brightened and said she'd be right over. An hour later, Bella showed up at Jake's house. Bella asked if she could go over and see Emily.
Emily came out of the house and smiled at Bella, "Bella, I was wondering when we'd see you around here."
"How are you, Emily?"
"Good, dealing with the pack as usual. But now I have Jared's imprint, Kim, to help me, and it helps so much." Emily said with a smile.
At that moment, Sam came out of the house. He hugged Emily and said hello to Bella. "I'll be back in a little while, Em. Jared asked me if I could go on patrol for a while if I felt up to it."
Emily gave Sam a concerned look, "And do you feel up to it?"
"Yeah, I feel better, and Jared said it would only be for a little while. If I started feeling bad, let him know, and he'd take my place."
"Okay, baby, be careful, and don't push yourself, okay?"
"Okay, Em," Sam told his mate and kissed her goodbye. With that, Sam phased and ran to meet Jared.
"Well, I have to get back to work. Bella, would you like something to eat?"
"No, thank you, Emily. Jake and I are going to take a walk."
Emily nodded, she hugged Bella and went back into the house. Bella and Jake walked in silence for a while along the beach until Bella turned to Jake, "What did Sam mean that Jared asked him to go on patrol and that Jared said he could stop if he felt bad?"
"Oh, you caught that. Well, a lot of things had changed this weekend when we were chasing the red-haired leech."
"Vic-Victoria was here!" Bella choked out.
"You didn't know? The pack and the Cullens chased her on Friday night."
Bella's eyes widen, "So that's why Edward wanted me to go see my mom this weekend. He wanted me out of the way."
Jake frowned, "Apparently so."
At that moment, Bella's phone rang. Bella looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Edward that was calling, "Why did you go to La Push without telling me," Edward demanded.
"Why didn't you tell me that everyone was hunting Victoria this weekend? That's what Alice's vision was about, wasn't it?"
There was silence on the other end of the line.
"You lied to me."
"I only wanted to keep you safe."
"By lying to me!"
"Bella, come back so we can talk about this."
"No, I'd rather spend the afternoon with someone who won't lie to me," Bella said, then hung up.
Edward growled and rushed downstairs, "You have to go to La Push and bring Bella back now," He orders Selene.
Selene looked at Emmett, "Is he for real?"
Emmett looked at Edward, "It looks like it."
Selene raised a slender eyebrow at Edward, "No, Edward, I'm not a dog to play fetch for you."
"But you have to, Bella's in danger!"
Selene stood up and got in Edward's face, "I don't have to do anything, and Jake may be an asshole, but he would never hurt Bella. So don't get your panties in a twist."
Edward looked at Leah, who was reading a book, "Dude, don't even look at me," Leah said without looking up from her book.
Then he looked at Emmett, "You're kidding, right?" Emmett questioned.
"I hate you all."
"Does it look like we give a shit," Leah asked, never taking her eyes off the book.
Back in La Push, Bella listened to Jake as he filled her in on what happened over the weekend, "I can't believe Paul tried to kill Emmett. I don't blame Selene at all for attacking Paul."
"You don't?"
"Of course not, she had every right to protect the man she loves. Look at what you did to Paul, and he only wanted to scare me, and you're only my best friend." Bella said as she continued to walk. She didn't notice the hurt look on Jake's face.
"Yeah, but she tried to kill Paul."
"So would I if he had gone after Edward," Bella said, "And I can understand why the Elders stripped Sam and you from being Alpha. Sam should have taken Selene's side and shouldn't have worried about his ego."
"And me?"
"You instigated the whole thing. You're too immature to be an Alpha. Jared is more suited to lead."
"Wow, way to hurt my feeling, Bells."
"I'm sorry, Jake, but it's true. An Alpha looks after his pack; he doesn't pit them against each other."
Jake started getting angry, "What would you know about being in a pack?!"
"Nothing, but Carlisle is the leader of the Cullen Coven, and he always put the family first. I've seen it."
"We're nothing like those bloodsuckers!" Jake screamed.
"Well, Jared has something in common with Carlisle, he cares about the pack first before himself," Bella said then walked away, "I think it's time for me to go home."
"Come on, Bella, don't go."
"No, I think I've worn out my welcome. I'll see you later," Bella turned and walked back towards Billy's house. She got into her truck and drove home.
A few minutes after she got home, Edward showed up, "Do you have any idea how worried I was? I almost broke the treaty."
"Why I was perfectly safe."
"Because those two wolf bitches wouldn't help me."
Bella frowned, "Don't call them that, I don't need a baby sitter. I'm perfectly safe with the wolves."
"I wouldn't be-" Edward cut himself off when he caught the scent of another vampire in the house.
"What?"
"Someone's been here," Edward said as he pushed his way inside.
He followed the scent upstairs and discovered that Bella's room was drenched in the vampire's scent. He took out his phone and called Jasper and explained what was going on. Jasper showed up a few minutes later and told Edward that he would track the scent.
With that, Edward took Bella to the Cullen house to keep her safe. When Bella walked in, she found Selene and Leah in the kitchen eating with Esme and Carlisle sitting with them. The girls looked up and greeted Bell. Emmett had gone with Jasper to track the vampire.
"Hello, Bella, would you like something to eat," Esme asked after she hugged Bella.
"Um, yeah, I could eat. Hi guys. I heard what happened, Selene. I'm sorry."
Selene looked at her sister, "Um, thanks, Bella."
"Are you and Leah okay?"
"Oh yeah, we're good. Leah and I have always been more independent from the pack than the others. So it hurts but not that much. Less for me since I didn't grow up with them," Selene explains.
An hour later, Jasper and Emmett walk into the house, "We lost the scent five miles South of Bella's house."
"Someone's orchestrating this." Edward muses.
"Victoria?" Carlisle questions
"Victoria?" Selene turns to Leah and questions.
"The red-haired vampire from Friday night," Carlisle informed her.
"I would have seen her decide," Alice said.
"It's got to be the Volturi."
Again Selene gave her sister a questioning look, Leah only shrugged.
The Cullens continued to talk about who it could be until Selene had enough of their stupid theories, "Oh my gods, isn't it obvious? It was a scout for the red-haired chick, Victoria."
"That's not possible, Selene, I'm watching for her decisions," Alice said.
"Yeah, but what about her lieutenant? It only makes sense that if she knows you can see her decisions, she will let her lieutenant make the decisions since you have no idea who that is."
"What about the Volturi?" Edward said.
"What about them? Who are they anyway?"
Carlisle went on to explain what happened in the Spring with Bella and Edward and Selene and Leah stared at Bella in shock. They couldn't believe she would do something so stupid.
"Why would they come to check on Bella if you already gave your word you would change her, and this Aro dude saw it in Alice's vision? That's stupid and a waste of time."
The vampires turn to Jasper to see what he thought. Selene and Leah look at each other and roll their eyes. Jasper may have military experience, but Selene was trained with Athena's kids. Who could be better at strategy than Selene's cousins?
"What Selene makes sense. More so than the Volturi having anything to do with this. So I think what you need to do, Darlin' is widened your search, maybe you can see Victoria' Lieutenant make the decision," Jasper told Alice.
Alice nods and does as her husband said.
"In the meantime, we need to protect Bella," Edward said.
"And Charlie, or did you forget about him," Selene asked.
"That goes without saying."
"Does it?" Edward glared at Selene
"How are you going to watch me, my dad, Victoria and keep yourselves fed," Bella asked.
"We'll manage," Carlisle said.
"I don't want you guys to starve because of me. There is another way."
"What?"
"We can talk to Jared and the wolves," Bella suggested.
"Jared? Why, Jared?" Leah asked.
"You don't know? Sam was stripped of his right to being Alpha. Jake said it had something to do with the Ancestor's decision and the gods," Bella explained.
Selena and Leah looked at each other again, and Leah looked at Selene's necklace, meaning, 'Your dad?'
Selene slowly nodded.
"No! We are not getting Jake involved," Edward said.
"I believe she said Jared, not Jake," Leah said, "Idiot," Leah mumbled, causing Jasper and Emmett to snort.
Carlisle cleared his throat, "I think that's our best option. We don't have enough people to keep Bella and Charlie safe."
Edward grudgingly agreed.