Chapter 25: The Alphas
I'm met with a room full of women. One is sitting at the foot of the only chair in the middle of the room. She has cropped, jet-black hair that's tucked behind her ears. Her turquoise earrings dangle and glisten under the light. After rolling up her sleeves, she fills a large, white basin with steaming water.
Another woman gently unfolds a wrapping cloth in the far corner. From her furrowed brows and puckered lips, she seems to be deep in thought. Her round face looks soft and fragile draped in a silky black fringe.
And then there's Leah, the youngest and the tallest amongst the crowd, standing at a small table sorting through an old jewelry box. Her toned arms flex as she gently organizes the miscellaneous items.
Sue steps in first, lighting a stick of sage and waving it in front of the threshold before I enter. All the women quietly watch as she circles my form in a thick cloud of smoke.
"Hurry up and sit down," Leah instructs, waving her hand towards the pine chair.
I carefully take a seat and say hello to everyone in the room. They all gently parrot the greeting back to me.
I pick at the callous on my index finger and fight a yawn in silence. I would say I was sitting underneath a microscope but no one is looking at me. They're all busy preparing me for the slaughterhouse.
"How much do you know about what's going on today?" A beautifully serene voice asks from the furthest corner. She neatly unfolds a pure white sweater.
"Jake and I are here to tell the elders we're expecting." I search around the room for a helping clue. "He said he's supposed to do all the talking."
They all nod in agreement.
"It's really to announce yourself as a mother of the first family. Since Jacob's mom has passed on, and Sam and Emily have yet to conceive, you are the only mother of the first house and that comes with responsibilities."
"Your job is to raise the next generation of Alpha wolves," The woman at my feet interjects as she gently pats my knees and slowly places my feet into the basin to soak.
"Don't look so scared, Bella. We'll show you the ropes," Sue chortles. Her hands run a brush through my hair. "Sally is Jared's mom. She hand knit your sweater for today. Belinda is Quil's mom. She'll teach you how to wash your feet."
"It's really nice to meet you all." I'm grateful for the proper introduction, but I notice someone is missing, "Where's Embry's mom? I didn't get a chance to meet her at the last gathering."
Sue's hand stops like she's caught a snag.
The awkward pause makes me quiver. Have I said something wrong already? "I didn't get a chance to meet anyone at the last meeting so..."
"Embry's mom stays on the Makah rez. She couldn't take it anymore. She left." Leah's voice is the softest it's ever been.
"You're supposed to clean your feet every day because you're pregnant. You have to ensure a healthy pregnancy, so make this a habit. Soaking them in the tub every night and wiping your feet in the shower with a cloth in the morning will make your life easier," Belinda explains.
I scratch my head at the foreign concept. "Oh, ok." This must be one of those things Jake was talking about.
"Don't linger in thresholds either," Sally adds.
I nod my head. Maybe I should take notes… "Is there anything I should know for the ceremony?"
"You have one job— make Jacob look good." Leah's irritated remark leaves me even more confused.
"How do I do that?"
"Do you respect him?" I nod in affirmation to Sally resting in the corner. "You love him?" She asks. I nod again, slowly. "Then become his shadow."
"You have to support him and all of his decisions in the presence of the tribal leaders." Sue clarifies as she pulls my hair straight back.
"He has to show complete control. Do not challenge him. After today you'll be his wife. You hold the house in order, but learn everything you can about his business. Help him when he needs it. Do what he asks and be ready to pick up the slack." Sally drives her remarks home with a stern look and a firm grip on my shirt. "Take this off, you have to wear a crisp white sweater today."
I flinch in initial irritation at the thin angora pullover. My skin relaxes once the hairs warm up to my skin. It's thin but not see-through, warm but not overwhelmingly hot. I can still breathe.
"Don't worry. Nobody is the perfect wife, not even Sally. I'll help you, Leah will too." Sue resumes her task running some sort of scented dry oil through my strands.
"Hah! She needs help too." Belinda waves her wet hands in Leah's direction. "I wouldn't let her fool you."
Sally's face softens into a sheepish grin that crinkles her eyes. "It's our job to show you how to mother the Quileute way, but you are still a woman. Trust your true nature. Only you know your husband. If it's the only thing you remember, lean on him and have his back. Nobody will have grounds to disapprove of you if you keep that in mind. Nobody's perfect but you need to be damn close if you're married to the Alpha."
"Do you know what you want the baby to be?" Sue asks.
"A healthy, happy, smart, sweet, angel." With chubby cheeks and tan skin, I want a mini Jake that's round with youth and innocence. I can't keep the smile off of my face just thinking about it.
Leah rolls her eyes in response. "She means boy or girl."
"I don't care," My shoulders rise and fall in indifference.
"You should. Jacob needs a son." Sally's being is so powerful every time she speaks. Her words set the tempo and her tone resets the mood of the entire room. Her sweet elegance fooled me. Although she's average in size, her presence feels heavy yet controlled and dangerously calm, mysterious even.
The sudden seriousness brings me back to Jake's curse rhetoric. It's ridiculous. "I can only have a boy if Jake gives me one," I rebut. "What's done is done. There's no choosing." I would be a fool to look a gift horse in the mouth. "I'll be happy with whatever he's given me."
The room falls silent and Sally's eyes have averted to the stray angora fibers in her hands.
What? Has arrogance dripped down my chin? Everybody's staring like my head has grown twice in size.
"She means his firstborn needs to be a boy if you want people to respect you. It means you've completely submitted to the will of the spirits. It's a bloodline thing." Belinda towel dries my toes and rolls my jeans down.
"It's bullshit. There's no shame in having a girl as your firstborn." Leah has found a way to stick up for me and defend herself.
"That's easy for you to say. You're a part of the first five families, so you'll always have a seat at the table. Everybody else is depending on Bella having a boy. It means a seat at the table that will be tipped in our favor for the next generation." Sally flicks her hair away from her cheek.
"Why does it have to be a male? I think she handled herself just fine at the table. I would be proud to have a 'Leah' as my firstborn." I'm met with huffs, rolling eyes, and a single smile from Leah.
"Good answer." She comes closer, hooking wooden earrings into my pierced lobes. "Maybe you're not so bad after all."
"The earrings belonged to Jacob's mother. They belong to you now." Sue hands me a small frameless mirror. "Refrain from voicing your shared sentiments today. Say your 'I do's' and worry about the rest later."
I peer into the mirror and try to hold on to my poker face. I don't think I've ever looked this way in my entire life. I look almost unrecognizable, not in a made-up way but in a mature way. I look clean. I look like I could belong to Jake.
My hair is neatly combed straight back. The pure white sweater makes my cheeks look pinched. The wood-carved earrings point toward and away from my jawline with spikes that stick out in uniform, alternating directions.
" I know the earrings are a little heavy. You'll probably get the opal pieces from Billy during the days of offering." Leah dabs a salve over my lips. "Don't think about getting a haircut anytime soon either."
A gentle knock brings our attention to the door.
Embry peeks his head through the crack. "We're ready when you are."
The ladies take me to the room with the magical table. As I step inside, they quickly close the door behind me like I'm being fed to the wolves.
Jacob's strong back greets me when I silently take my place behind him. He's changed clothes too. We're matching except his hair has been perfectly parted down the middle and neatly placed behind his ears.
He reaches back to take my hand before speaking, "We are here to announce our addition to the first family. Bella is carrying my child and I ask that we be seen as one."
I stare back at what seems to be only a handful of the older men that were present at the last meeting. They sit arm's distance apart from one another in what I assume to be respective order.
The ultrasound pictures have been laid out before their aged eyes. The five men lean forward, salt and pepper eyebrows raised in curiosity.
"The Alpha family finally has a mother. Congratulations are in order," An elder with white hair and a voice rough like husks slowly announces in satisfaction.
"But is she the mother, Old Quil?" Another man challenges with a deeply wrinkled face and pursed lips.
"With time I'm sure both her and Jacob will prove themselves more than capable. He has already accomplished more than Billy's first son." Old Quil cuts his eyes to Jake's dad.
"Time we don't have, unfortunately. We must make a decision now, Billy," A man with a long ponytail declares.
Billy nods in agreement, "I don't intend to keep Sam waiting any longer."
"Put him out of his misery. Tell him the truth. We've chosen Jacob," Old Quil suggests.
"And what is Sam?" The white-haired man appears puzzled and weary.
Billy rubs the lines on his forehead. The question leaves his face torn.
"Out," Jake commands.
"You don't intend to keep Sam second in command?" Old Quil reels in incredulity.
"No, it will go to my second, Call. Atera will be third until Clearwater is of age." Jake's confident tone isn't enough to ward off the onslaught.
"Is that why Sam isn't here? Did you not invite your only brother for this reason?"
"Why the sudden change?"
"You're reordering the entire first five?"
"You don't trust your own brother anymore?"
Everyone is speaking at once. Jake's plans have set off a spell of howling protests. Voices are rising. Heads are swiveling between Jake and Billy who appear to be having their own silent conversation. They haven't broken eye contact or spoken directly to each other.
I pull our joined hands into my lap. The ugly ominous clouds threaten to crawl out and pour rain. I'm holding on for dear life. Somebody has to blink and end this staring contest.
"Sam cannot bless nor ordain this union or my future as Alpha. He serves no purpose here."
"Son!" Billy puts a stop to the unfiltered disdain. Jake's storm has the chance to drown everyone in the room.
"I'm sure you all are aware of his side dealings and violence. I've come to the realization that everybody is too scared to do anything about it. You all are aware that my brother is trying to destroy us and I am vowing to never let that happen. He cannot be in my pack." Jake's voice stabs and slices at the air. Cruel, heartless waves of animosity harden his features.
"You are trying to banish your brother from the pack entirely?" Billy's eyes study his gesture as if he's seeing Jake for the first time.
"No, you all said it yourselves, I've been chosen. He was never a part of my pack. I was never a part of his. If I am Alpha, he and his children will never make another decision in this room again." Jake's fingers flex in my pleading grip.
Is this what it takes to protect me and our child? Is this the only way Jake can be Alpha? My sight falls to my knees in realization. I can only protect what's mine. If this is the only way, then I'll have to look in the other direction while Jake cuts everyone down.
"Is there something else going on, something you'd like to tell us?" The man donning the neat ponytail provokes anger.
"I don't know, maybe you'd have some idea, Lahote. Your grandson has been attending some questionable meetings my brother and his wife have been hosting." Jake's clenched jaw flares.
"Sam has been showing concern for your actions as well. Caleb and I spoke with him."
"He seems to think your bride has some ties to the Cullens." Caleb's deep wrinkles remain in place, from his inquisitive eyes to his blank lips.
These two elders seem to be the first on Jake's warpath. They've cut low, attacking his weakest point, me. They smell blood and they're starting to circle us.
Jake balks at the claim."If you believed that, I wouldn't be sitting here."
The strike I helped hold against him makes me cringe. There is doubt floating around the room because of me. My mistake is dragging Jake into the mud with me. If I could explain and take all the blame I would. My lips part but my promises to Jake close my throat.
"We don't know what to believe. You claimed her yet she has no Quileute ink. She's pregnant yet she does not live under this roof. I said it before and I'll say it again; What are you doing? These are not the actions of a leader." Lahote's eyebrows raise in challenge before he crosses his arms.
"You and Sam both appear to be hiding your hands." Caleb's sights settle on our interwoven fingers.
"Is Isabella Italian?" Lahote's grimace turns its focus on me. "Was Brady lying when he said he saw her with Edward Cullen?"
The circle feels like it's getting tighter with each question. I'm a horrible shadow. I offer no support in the midst of an attack. I feel like I'm in a room of giants. I have no slingshot.
"Edward Cullen has been using Bella to pass along messages to me. He believes Sam has plans to steal from a Voltaire import. You haven't seen a dead man's ledger floating around here have you?" Jake's question sends a shockwave through the old crowd. He's lying for me and showing one of his cards. I hold my breath, careful not to blow his straw man of an argument down.
"And you trust what a Cullen says! How dare you!" Lahote's fist comes down on the table and I almost fall out of my skin.
My hips wobble and my knees protest at the weight shift. My cold toes have gone numb. The only thing that anchors me in place is Jake's hand.
Billy pulls the reins once again, "Enough! I will not have my sons split this tribe in half. As long as I serve as an elder I will not allow either of my boys to undermine our collective efforts. What's done is done."
"A boat manager comes up missing in Denali and you thought they weren't gonna come sniffing around Forks? What happens when they start finding bodies? Do you think they care which one of us did it? They will come for blood! Put an end to this now!" Jake's incredulous tone sends their composure into a downward spiral.
"Jacob, I will not allow you to banish Sam! Furthermore, we will not discuss Sam's actions while he is not present to defend himself. We will not be challenged on matters that have been put to rest.
I let you place your bid for Alpha. I have voted in your favor, but I will not allow you to permanently reorganize the families' natural order. You can't handle what you're asking for." Billy's power outweighs Jake's aggression with crushing discipline.
The air has been stolen from the room. Jake's direct attacks are foiled by his father's honor and loyalty to something much bigger than his son's desires.
"When will your bride be moved into the house?" Billy asks.
"She'll move in once she graduates from school."
The change in subject feels abrupt. My cautious breathing leaves me lightheaded. The focus has come back to me and my poor choices. I should have a million wounds the way I've been bitten into. I'll probably bleed out before I can make it out of the door.
"She should be here now." Old Quil strongly suggests. "How do you expect the tribe to trust in you when it looks like you're living two lives?"
"Let us make one thing clear, you two failed to follow the rules from the very beginning. Now you come before us and you think you can choose when you move in? As far as we're concerned, maturity escapes you." Caleb's scathing remark makes my heart sink.
I did this to Jacob.
"If we were ready to let go of all tradition and values we would've considered choosing Sam." The white-haired man slowly blinks his eyes, his lips barely parted for his parched thoughts.
"I will allow it," Billy speaks up in finality.
The oldest man slowly speaks up again, "Do you agree to give your first son to the legacy?" Although he's asking Jake, his eyes watch for my reaction.
The blood drains from my face as I sit frozen in place.
"I do," Jake replies.
"And is this child a boy?" His quivering hand drags the sonogram along the table. His shoulders bent over the table waiting for an answer.
Jake's tone softens as he talks about our first child. "It's too soon to tell. We conceived a little over two months ago. When we find out, you'll be informed."
"Are there any objections to these two being joined together under the Alpha placement?" Old Quil puts fire to a sage stick and waits for the others to voice their grievances.
His initiation puts everyone in a trick bag. Object and you'll be forced to drop the neutral mask and pick a side.
"Do you wish to be joined with our Alpha?" His sympathetic eyes turned their attention to me.
"Yes," The only word I've spoken in this room today sounds deadly and crisp.
"Then it's settled," Billy exhales.
"Let's get on with it." The old man flicks his white lashes in irritation.
"You may be brought to the table as one." Old Quil rises from his knees.
Jake pulls me forward by our joined hands and hovers them over the table. We sit shoulder to shoulder across from the men.
Old Quil begins to chant, "A new body collectively as one, eye to eye, soul for soul."
A white basin is carefully slid across the table and placed between us right below our joined fists.
Jacob carefully lowers our hands into the lukewarm water.
"And until the deities come calling do you part…"
The elders sit perfectly still when the white muslin cloth is draped over our submerged fist.
"Repeat after me; to the sky, to the earth, to all my relations…"
Jake stares into my eyes and repeats the words with me, our lips in unison.
The sage is fanned around us while Billy smudges our foreheads.
"We are one."
I repeat the words with Jake again. This time I watch his lips paint the picture until mine are clear enough to be heard.
"May you stay grounded and walk in balance…" Quil waves feathers over our heads before tying the cloth around our woven fingers. "May you be washed clean and the hands pure. Face each other as a pair that now makes one."
Jake leans closer until we're nose to nose, lips to lips. His hand pulls us away from the water and into a land of our own, as we close our eyes and kiss before them.
His hold on my face brings sweltering heat to my cheeks. My lips are crushed and forced to yield. The untethered devotion and residual anger make me fall into him. I let him lead me into a display of submission.
The elders clear their throats and excuse us.
Everyone is waiting for us outside the door in silence until Jake smiles into my neck and pulls me close. His arms close around me tightly and everyone relaxes.
"Oh thank God," Leah sighs in relief.
Sue and Belinda wrap us tightly in a heavy white blanket.
Embry snaps a picture with an old mirrorless camera. "Congratulations." His supporting hand turns into a thumbs up.
"Let's eat. All the stress made me hungry." Quil pats Jake on the shoulder before heading towards the kitchen.
Jake's kiss reaches down to my ear to speak sweetly, "I love you."
Thank you for reading. I hope you found it interesting... entertaining?