Captain Crunch, the peanut butter type, was just not as good as Captain Crunch with berries. Or Lucky Charms. Or Frosted Flakes. Or just about any other type of cereal out there that wasn't marketed as a health food. Unfortunately for Jacob, the only type of cereal left in the Black's cabinet was peanut butter Captain Crunch. Sue had bought them several boxes of cereal, but they had all vanished. And while Jacob wished he could blame it all on Paul (and some of them were definitely Paul's doing), Jacob had managed to work his way through a couple of them himself.
It was Saturday, and he'd finally gotten a chance to sleep in. Although it wasn't really sleeping in, not really, not when Rachel and Billy had woken him up at eight am with some type of loud argument about Rebecca not coming home. Rachel felt strongly (and Jacob was inclined to agree) that Rebecca could never come back, not till they could be certain that a wolf wouldn't imprint on her. It was one thing to interrupt Rachel's future plans; it was another to destroy Rebecca's marriage. Billy, of course, didn't see it that way. Jacob thought it was all stupid since as far as he knew, Rebecca had no plans to visit anytime soon. But Rachel was gone when he made his way to the small main room to get his morning cereal, and Billy's face made it clear that he didn't want to talk about it.
"Hello, Charlie!" Billy's booming voice was gruff and he didn't wait for an answer before continuing, "It looks good for fishing today! Old Quil offered to let us borrow his boat, do you want to take it out? We're getting a late start but if we head out in the next hour or so, I think if we go far enough out we could still catch some. And if not there's plenty in the freezer! Sue said she'd cook it up after work."
From the other side of the line, Jacob could hear Billy's response clear as day, "It's nice of you to offer, Billy, but I think I'm going to go over to the Cullen's. I want to see if they're home. It just doesn't seem right. Their stories aren't making sense. I need to see if they're there."
"Charlie, don't do anything stupid," Billy's voice was calm but strained. Frantically, he pointed at Jacob.
"Do something!" He mouthed.
Numbly, Jacob stood up. His mind was racing at 500 miles an hour, as various plans entered and exited his mind. None of them were any good, and none of them would fool Charlie.
"Go, Jacob! Stop Charlie!" Billy hissed.
Jacob didn't bother to slip on any shoes as he hurried outside, thankful that his house was so close to the woods. He pulled off his shirt, tossing it on the small table as he ran out.
"Hey, Jacob," Paul was heading up to the stairs to the house, "Where are you going?"
"Can't talk now," he said as he ran past Paul towards the forest, "Rachel's gone anyways!"
He heard Paul call after him in confusion, but he didn't stop. Paul was hopefully smart enough to realize that Jacob was on a mission. And if not, then surely Billy would tell him if he made it all the way inside. Once in the safety of the trees, he tied his jean pants around his leg and willed his body to morph into a wolf.
Charlie's going to the Cullen's, he announced as soon as he phased. He wasn't even sure anyone else was a wolf. Immediately, though, he heard Leah's mind start racing.
Did they say something to him? Leah demanded. Leah had only a smidgen more patience with Charlie than she did Bella; she hated Bella, but she could tolerate Charlie, if only because he had been Harry's friend.
No. But that's why he's going. He knows something's off and he wants to investigate. Billy told me to stop him.
It was then that Jacob saw Quil and Embry, walking as humans towards the Black's house. Fuck. They were supposed to officially join the pack today. In the panic over Charlie, Jacob had managed to forget about that particular Saturday morning plan.
Leah, can you please go deal with Quil and Embry? They're heading to my house now to officially join the pack… probably better that you do it, anyways. I don't know how to switch allegiances. Jacob could hear his two friends calling out his name as he ran past them, yelling playful insults and demanding to know what he was doing. Before he even finished the thought, Leah had turned around, now running towards their spot in the woods. She'd never admit it aloud, or even with words, but Jacob could see the truth: she was reveling in doing her duty as Beta.
Leah pushed all thoughts of her position of Beta out of her mind, embarrassed at being caught, and focused on the one thing she was always known to fuss about: her brother.
We need to warn Seth.
Where is he?
At the bloodsuckers, of course. Leah let out a low howl that would be impossible to hear with human ears, but that Seth and the leeches would pick up with ease. Seth said they might leave if Charlie doesn't stop asking questions. And Jake, I hate those fucking bloodsuckers with all my heart but I don't want to know what would happen to Seth if they left.
I won't let him get that far, Jacob promised. Or if I do I'll make sure he knows the truth, he added, thinking of Bella's plan to let Charlie make his own conclusions.
Jacob, Leah asked, disapproving of Bella's plan and with limited patience with Jacob's lack of ideas, do you have any type of plan?
His mind went to all the possibilities he'd thought of so far, from faking some type of emergency to just telling him the truth, or at least, part of the truth.
No, he admitted.
Just don't do anything stupid.
Hi guys! Seth had phased in, You howled?
Charlie's heading over to the Cullen's place, Leah told her brother.
Oh, no, oh, no, oh, no. Behind the words, Jacob could feel the chant that defined Seth's life: Nessie, Nessie, Nessie.
Don't panic yet, Seth – I'm going to try to intercept him.
It'll be fine, Seth. Jake will stop him.
From Leah's eyes, he could see that Leah had arrived at Quil and Embry's location, by Jacob's house. Neither had moved and both were still standing around, looking confused. Leah's arrival was met with enthusiastic yells from the two of them.
Later, children. Go save Charlie or whatever. With a whoosh, Leah was gone.
They're going to have to leave if Charlie comes, Jake. I can't let them leave. I can't be that far from Nessie. And Mom and Leah would never let me go with them!
I'll figure it out, Seth. Don't worry. I won't let Charlie get that far.
Bella wants to see Charlie again. Apparently, she has some type of super self-control and she thinks it might be safe, Seth mused, She said maybe they could let them make his own guesses as to what happened.
I thought those evil Italian vampires or whatever would kill any human who knows about vampire's existence.
But if it's just a guess, then maybe they'd spare him. He might guess wrong. Seth was never anything but an optimist. Maybe you could give him a false idea…
A false idea? Like what?
Maybe suggest radioactive spiders bit them, Seth suggested. That's what Bella told me her first guess one.
Jacob burst out laughing at that idea. I'll think of something, Seth, promise. Now I gotta go.
From the top of the hill, Jacob could see Charlie's patrol car rounding the curve. Jacob began running full speed to the side of the road, just a minute or so ahead of where
In the beginning, phasing back to human took focus and time. Now, in seconds, Jacob was naked in the forest. He kicked his clothes free, just jean cutoffs, and slipped them on. And then he stepped onto the road.
Just as he thought, Charlie's patrol car rounded the corner three seconds later.
Jacob waved his hands frantically, and Charlie slowed the car down to a stop. He pulled over the side of the road and rolled down his window.
"Jacob? What are you doing here? Why aren't you wearing a shirt?" Charlie's voice was full of concern, "What is it with you and your friends and never wearing shirts? Every time I'm down on the reservation, there's a whole bunch of you without shirts. I've never understood it."
"Never mind that, Charlie. Do you mind letting me ride with you?"
Charlie eyed Jacob warily, but nodded and unlocked the car door.
"Billy told me you were going to the Cullen's place," Jacob stated as he slid into the passenger seat of the patrol car.
"Billy told you about that?" Charlie turned towards Jacob, looking suspicious, "How did you get here so fast?"
"I, uh, ran. I was out on a run and Billy called me and so I ran to come to catch you," Jacob fibbed, "Luckily I was in the area."
"How did Billy call you?"
"I'm borrowing Rachel's cellphone," Jacob said as smoothly as possible. Rachel didn't have a cell phone and based on the look on Charlie's face, he knew that. But still, Jacob continued, "Yeah, Billy wanted me to take it with me and see what type of reception I got out here in the middle of the woods. So Rachel would know if it was safe to come out here with just her phone."
"Right." It couldn't be clearer that Charlie didn't believe a word that Jacob was saying. He put the car back in drive, and the patrol car lurched back into action. Charlie always drove the speed limit, and Jacob did some mental calculations. They had at most ten minutes before they reached the Cullen's.
"Anyways, I thought I'd catch a ride," Jacob babbled nervously, "Knew it was you as soon as I saw the patrol car… It's recognizable, that's for sure. Thought I'd go see what the Cullen place is like." Jacob let out an edgy laugh. He didn't say anything else, his mind still searching desperately for some type of plan. Leah's words echoed in his head. Don't do anything stupid. All the plans he could come up with stupid. Surely Seth had warned the Cullens and convinced them to act as if nobody was home.
"You know, I was always rooting for you, kid," Charlie said after a second, "Maybe it's not too late, you know. Bella's mother and I got married young and got divorced young. Maybe she'll still come around. Until you have kids, divorce is nothing more than a breakup with some extra paperwork."
Jacob snorted. It was too late for that. Far too late. But Charlie didn't know that.
"You know, Charlie, the world isn't how it seems," Jacob said suddenly, "A lot is going on that you don't know about."
"What are you trying to say, Jake?"
"Charlie, it's too late for me and Bella. The world isn't how it seems, Charlie. It's a strange world out there and nothing is how it seems. But the important thing is that Bella knew that."
Jacob's eyes were trained on Charlie as he drove. Charlie's resolve never faltered, his eyes still glued to the road. Jacob could see how tightly he was gripping the wheel, and he realized that Charlie was just as nervous as he was.
"What in God's name?" Charlie cried. Jacob tore his eyes off of Charlie and looked ahead only to see a familiar sandy blob, "It's one of the wolves that Bella was talking about! Jesus Christ, it's giant!"
"Seth, what the fuck?!" Jacob hissed under his breath. Charlie barely slowed the moving vehicle before Jacob opened the door and jumped out of it. He phased in mid-air, thankful that the action was effortless now, and landed on four paws, tumbling only a little before he propelled himself to where Seth was standing firmly.
Seth, move out of the way! Jacob hadn't known it was going to be an Alpha command until it was out halfway formed. It was effortless, commanding Seth pack member to save his own life. With an awkward movement, Seth moved halfway out of the road. Out of the direct line of contact, at least. It didn't matter though; Charlie was already slamming on the brakes.
Seth, what the fuck are you doing? What part of don't be a fucking martyr do you not understand?! Jacob seethed. He knocked his body against Seth's, both wolves tumbling out of the road. Charlie's car was stopped a few feet away; the tires had screeched and the car had slid at the sudden stop. Jacob continued pushing Seth out of the way, into the forest, although Seth put up such a little fight that it was almost unforced, You really have lost your Goddamn mind!
Jake, you don't understand! They're going to leave if Charlie comes! I can't let them leave and take Nessie, Jacob. You have to understand that. Seth was panicked and pleading.
Phase, Seth. Charlie's coming and he has a gun, Jacob commanded. Wolves could heal fast, but could they survive a gun wound? Jacob hadn't the slightest clue and he wasn't trying to find out.
Both of them phased where they were standing. Seth had clothes tied around his leg, but in Jacob's hurry to get Seth out of the way, his jean shorts had been destroyed.
"Jacob, they'll leave if Charlie comes," Seth explained urgently, "I had to stop him. I can't let him go see her."
"So what were you going to do? Let him kill you and send your body off to some government lab and get us all exposed and thrown into some type of secret government prison?" Jacob demanded, "I told you I'd take care of it!"
"I know Jacob, but you didn't have a plan and -"
"And so your plan was to have Charlie to hit you with his car?"
"Well, not exactly. I didn't really have a plan," Seth admitted sheepishly, "I just knew I needed to stop him."
They could hear a crunch of the leaves and the breaking of branches approaching; they had managed to get a fair distance from the road and safely into the forest. But Charlie was fast on their heels, at least for a human.
"We'll figure this out later, Seth. Just shut up for now," Jacob shifted his weight from side to side as the footsteps came closer and closer.
"Shutting up," Seth gulped for air, looking more nervous than Jacob had ever seen before.
"Jacob, Seth? What are you guys doing here? Why are you naked? Don't answer that. I don't want to know," Charlie approached, his gun in his hands, "Did you see the giant wolves? There were two of them! One pushed the other right off the road."
Jacob and Seth exchanged a glance.
"Charlie, you know how I told you that the world isn't how it seems?" Jacob took a deep breath. Was he doing this? He was doing this. Charlie had already seen the wolves and he already knew something was up. No point in stopping now.
"What's this about, Jacob?" Charlie asked impatiently. His fingers twitched at the trigger and he looked around, scanning for the wolves.
"You should put that down, Charlie." Jacob willed his voice to be cool and confident, "You don't want to hurt anyone. This is about Bella."
Charlie narrowed his eyes but obeyed, "It's about Bella?"
"Yes. Charlie, me and Seth are the wolves you saw."
"Jacob, what are you doing?" Seth whispered, horrified. Jacob shot a warning look at him and Seth gulped for air once more. There was a slight tremble shaking Seth's body, but Jacob knew that Seth had better control than anyone else in his new ragtag pack.
Charlie just started laughing, "What in the world are you talking about, kid? Are you on drugs? Is that why you're naked in the woods? Bella said there was that gang problem down in La Push… I didn't realize it had gotten so bad. And you're telling me this is about Bella? Is Bella involved in this gang too?"
"We're not on drugs, Charlie. Hand me the gun and we'll show you. I promise you: this is about Bella."
Charlie looked from Seth to Jacob, as if he couldn't decide what to do. Both boys towered over him, and even naked, Jacob knew they must look intimidating. Several moments passed as his eyes moved from boy to boy. Seth kept his eyes trained nervously on Jacob, still shaking just a little bit, even as he worked to regulate his breathing.
Finally, Charlie slowly handed Jacob the gun.
"Phase, Seth." The familiar rustle of phasing filled the air and suddenly, Seth's giant sandy wolf was standing in front of them.
"What in God's name?" Charlie muttered, stumbling backward. He hit a tree and Jacob hurried to help him sit down.
"See, Charlie? It's just Seth."
"You guys… you two… you're the murderers!" Charlie yelped, the realization hitting him suddenly, "All those people! You killed all those people!" Charlie reached for his gun, cursing as soon as he realized that Jacob was still holding it. He reached out, attempting to hit Jacob, but between Jacob's superhuman speed and Charlie's delayed reaction from the shock, Jacob easily dodged the punch.
"Murderers?" Jacob laughed, "No, we catch the murderers. Haven't you noticed there haven't been any lately? It's because we stopped them. Take a deep breath, Charlie. Think it through. Seth's been here all summer, you've seen him. The killings stopped early in the summer. If Seth was the murderer, you would still be finding bodies."
Charlie shook his head, still in disbelief. He was muttering something unintelligible about how he must have gone insane under his breath. He glared at Jacob, "What does this have to do with Bella?"
"Charlie, do you want to see Bella again?" Jacob asked. Charlie nodded, but his stare was suspicious, "Seth, phase back. Listen, Charlie, if you want to see Bella again, you must listen to us."
"What does this have to do with Bella?" Charlie demanded.
"As I said earlier, Charlie, the world isn't how it seems. Seth and I are -"
"Don't say it!" Charlie squeaked out. Seth let out a chuckle, the tension he'd been holding in escaping at that moment.
"The world isn't as it seems, Charlie," Jacob repeated, "And Bella knows that."
"Have you seen her?" Charlie demanded, suddenly focused on his daughter again. He looked from Seth to Jacob, eyes narrowing.
"We've seen her," Seth confirmed, "I saw her earlier today."
Charlie immediately tried to get up, but Jacob held him down.
"Charlie, wait." The authority in Jacob's voice surprised even him, "Before you go to the Cullen's, you should listen to us."
"Is she okay? Is my daughter okay?" Charlie begged, ignoring Jacob.
"She's fine," Seth smiled at him.
"She's fine now," Jacob clarified, "But she was dying. The Cullens…"
"The Cullens saved her life!"
"Seth, shut up."
"She was dying?" Charlie choked.
"But she's fine now," Jacob emphasized. Fine wasn't really true. She was still dead, but she was also still there. Trapped in some horrible eternal afterlife, "She's healthy. But she's different. She's changed."
"How so?" Charlie's eyes narrowed, "If that bastard did anything to her, I swear to God…"
"Edward saved her life," Seth repeated, "He didn't do anything to her!"
Except impregnate her with the demon spawn that eventually ended her life. But that didn't matter. Charlie didn't need to know that.
"Seth, please," Jacob tried to hide his frustration, "Charlie, she's fine and you should go see her, but you have to understand that she's changed."
"Changed how?" Charlie's eyes narrowed at Jacob again.
"Well, for starters she looks a lot more like Esme now than she does Renee."
"She'll seem different to you, but she's still Bella. Sorry, Jake. I'll be quiet."
"That's all? She just looks different?"
"Well, there's one more thing. She and Edward, they, uh, how should I say this? Maybe you should just go see them. They have a surprise for you, that's all."
Charlie stared at Jacob, "They have a surprise for me?"
"Yes! And you'll love it!" Seth was nearly bouncing up and down at the mere abstract mention of Nessie.
Charlie looked so stunned that Jacob wondered if he might pass out, "And I can go see her? Bella?"
Jacob and Seth exchanged a look. "It was Charlie that was the problem wasn't it? They won't leave if Charlie has been dealt with?"
Seth nodded, "I think they'll stay now."
"Were they going to leave?" Charlie was alarmed again.
"They were. But I think they'll stay now. Seth, you should go warn them and talk all this over with them." Seth didn't even wait for Jacob to finish before he and phased again, running off. Charlie gasped at the sight but managed to stay on two feet this time.
"You okay, Charlie? Maybe we should get you back to patrol car," Jacob suggested. Charlie nodded once, and the two set back through the woods.
"Are you coming to the Cullens, too, Jacob?" He turned to face Jacob as he spoke.
"I have some other things I need to do, actually. Sorry, Charlie," Jacob really did feel bad – Charlie as like a second father to him in many ways, and leaving him to deal with this alone felt cruel - but he knew Quil and Embry were waiting for him.
"Jacob, does your father know about all this?" Charlie asked as they walked back towards his car.
"Billy? Yeah, he knows everything," Jacob confirmed, "So does Sue. So did Harry, even."
"And Bella, she knew all of this, too?" Charlie sounded more tired than terrified now. Like he'd resigned himself to accepting his daughter's fate and the secrets that his friends had been keeping from him.
Jacob nodded, "Bella knew everything. She made an informed decision. She's happy, Charlie. You'll see."
They had reached the squad car now. Jacob handed Charlie back his gun, which he took eagerly.
"Does she turn into an animal, too?" Charlie asked as he opened the car door and slid in.
"Nah," Jacob laughed, "She only wishes she was that cool."
"You sure you don't need a ride?"
Jacob shook his head, "I'm headed back to La Push. Thanks though."
Charlie stared at him, "How are you getting to La Push?"
Jacob laughed, "I'm a were-, er, sorry, Charlie. I got my ways. Don't worry about me."
"You're a good kid, Jacob."
"Thanks, Charlie."
He watched as Charlie sped off before heading to the woods again. When he phased in, Quil and Embry were there to greet him.
"Ready for this?" Leah asked him as he approached the community center building. She was standing outside of it, under the awning to protect herself from the slight drizzle. For the first time, Jacob noticed that her face looked softer than it had in months – definitely since she'd first phased, but maybe even before that – and she greeted him with a smile that seemed genuine. It was a good look on her.
Jacob shrugged, "Guess I have to be? This is what? Our second week as an officially sanctioned pack and our fourth meeting? It's all bullshit anyway. They never say anything important."
The weekly meeting with the Elders was non-negotiable, although some of the bullshit that Sam had insisted on was not.
"God, management sucks," Leah complained.
"You wanna give up your role?"
"Never."
Sam and Jared had a confused looked on their face when they approached the community center doors. They joined Leah and Jacob under the awning, although judging by their wet hair, they'd traveled in their wolf form.
"I thought Quil and Embry were joining your pack today," Sam said looking from Leah to Jacob.
"They did," Jacob confirmed, "This morning."
Jacob hadn't realized how much he'd missed having his two best friends in the bond with him. The lack of privacy was awful, still, it always would be, but if you're going to share all your thoughts, there was no one better to do it with then your two best friends. By the time he phased after interrupting Charlie, Quil and Embry had been there to greet him, and it felt a bit like going home.
"Normally you bring your Beta to these types of meetings," Sam explained in his condescending way. As if Jacob hadn't sat through a whole host of them when he was Sam's Beta.
"I did." His voice was surprisingly cool, but beside him, Leah hissed.
"Leah's your Beta?" Sam asked skeptically, eyes darting to her.
"Yeah."
"Really?" Jared asked incredulously.
"Is that so hard to believe?" Leah scowled. The lines on her face had appeared again, and her face was much harder than it was a few minutes ago, "That a girl can be Beta? Asshole."
"I just thought you'd have picked Quil or Embry," Jared took a step back and put his hands up, "Sorry."
Sam looked at both of them again, "It's surprising, that's all. I would have thought you'd pick Quil or Embry – your best friends. You two used to fight so much. It has nothing to do with you being a girl, Leah."
Jacob didn't have to share a mind link with Leah to know she didn't believe Sam for even half a second. She scoffed and began to tremble, but before she could fight or explode or anything else, they were interrupted by Sue telling them it that the Elders were ready for them.
These meetings were nothing more than a check-in between the Elders and the Pack, nothing more than a stupid formality. But sitting there next to Leah, across from Jared and Sam, Jacob felt a sense of authority he never had before. Sure, he'd spoken up in previous meetings, but he never had anyone of his own to protect. And now he did. Leah, Seth, Quil, and Embry were all under his charge. Like or it not, he had a pack.
The meeting started with greetings; none of the Elders questioned Leah's presence. They all had the sense to release what it meant, or bringing your second wasn't actually a rule, just something that Sam had done. Either way, after several minutes of Old Quil droning on something about traditions, Leah had stopped shaking.
"There's eight of them now. But ten wolves," Billy stated. The discussion had turned to the Cullens and the possibility of other boys phasing.
"Last time they came, there were only five of them and only three wolves. So it's possible that without any more cold ones, no one else will phase."
"If anyone else joins, they'll join Jacob's pack," Old Quil asserted, "Since he's the one who's the rightful Alpha."
On the other side of the table, Jacob could see Sam tense. It could just be Jacob's eyes, but it looked like Sam was trembling was just a little. The mighty controlled, calm Alpha wasn't so controlled and calm after all.
"Who else would it be?" Jacob asked, redirecting the conversation. Another kid, he knew that much. Someone even younger than Brady or Colin? It was unthinkable, but if it was a boy, that's who it would be, "Do we know?"
"Denver Ascarrunz," Billy said quietly, "Denver would be next, I would guess."
Jacob couldn't place Denver in his mind right away, although he recognized the name. Rowena – the girl who had approached Quil about studying for math – must be his older sister. Jacob didn't know Rowena particularly well, but he felt for her; he knew firsthand how much a phasing could tear a family apart.
"He's what? Twelve or thirteen?" Sam asked solemnly.
"Twelve," Billy's voice was quiet. And Jacob thought he had lost his youth when he phased at sixteen, "He just started seventh grade."
"Jesus," Jared swore, "He's just a kid."
Jacob glanced at Leah, who was sitting beside him. Her face mirrored what he felt like: she looked like she might puke.
"We'll just hope it doesn't come to that. I saw him the other day and it didn't look like he'd gone through any type of growth spurt. He looked like a normal twelve-year-old." Sue said, "But we should all keep an eye on him, just in case."
"It could be a girl," Leah said suddenly. Everyone turned to look at her.
"It won't be a girl," Sam stated.
"You don't know that."
"The legends never spoke of any female wolves," Old Quil agreed with Sam.
"Well I'm here, aren't I?"
"You are, Leah, but it seems that your transformation might be more of a unique situation. Colin and Brady have transformed, and they're quite young, but no other girls." Billy used the same tone as he had when he had tried to talk Charlie out of seeing the Cullens earlier in the day.
"No, Leah's right, it could be a girl. We don't know that for sure. Who would it be if it was a girl, do we have any idea?" Jacob wasn't sure if he was defending Leah because she was his Beta or because he genuinely felt bad for her. But the way Sam so easily dismissed her angered him.
"You have a sister, don't you, Jared?" Leah asked, daring Jared to say something, "Natalie? And isn't she fifteen? That's just the right age to phase."
Jared paled and nodded, "She turns sixteen in a few months."
"It won't be Natalie, Jared," Sam contended, "She hasn't gone through a growth spurt or anything."
Leah hissed a retort, as Jacob opened his mouth to speak. Old Quil mumbled something about the legends, as Billy tried opened his mouth to start to speak but closed it again just as quickly.
"We don't know who it will be." Sue's voice echoed through the mostly empty hall. Everyone stopped speaking and looked at her, "It could be Denver or Natalie or anyone else. There's no point in speculating."
"Right. We'll all look after the Ascarrunz boy and make sure he doesn't go through a growth spurt. And keep an eye out for any girls who look like they've grown several inches," Old Quil said with a note of finality. Jacob knew the conversation was over, "Should we move on to discussing patrol schedules?"
The conversation flowed into the purpose of being a wolf: patrols. As they debated how to best defend the tribe while keeping as many boys in school as possible and letting the older members of the packs have a life outside of being a wolf, Jacob stole a glance at Leah. She was sitting cross-armed, not saying anything. Her steely eyes were kept on the mural above Sam's head, never looking down at her ex or acknowledging anyone else's presence.
"One last item on the agenda: us Elders think it would be good if there were continued bonding activities for both packs. It's important that the packs remain on good terms and can work together." Sue's voice was less confident than normal as she said the words; she could already predict her daughter's reaction. Sure enough, Leah groaned at the decree.
"It is important. In case of another attack or battle, you all must be able to work together." As much as he didn't want to admit it, Jacob knew that Old Quil had a point. The only reason they had been able to defeat the newborns was that they worked well together; one of their five-member packs with just the Cullens would have been disastrous.
"We were thinking, Jacob, that we could have a bonfire for your birthday in a few weeks," Billy offered lightly.
"I don't want to do anything for my birthday." Jacob had given exactly zero thought to his birthday, but he spoke automatically. Even though he had always enjoyed spending time as a human with his pack mates, he didn't like the idea of having his birthday planned for him, even if he had no other ideas for a celebration.
"Your birthday is on a Saturday, and the bonfire can just happen to be the Friday before. No need for it to be for your birthday." Sue Clearwater may not have been Jacob's mother, but had spent enough time around her to know better than to argue when she spoke with that tone.
"Sure, sure."
"That's all then. You're all dismissed," Sue waved her hands at the four wolves, all of which stood up immediately. The Elders stayed seated, no doubt to gossip some more in the name of "tribal business." Their meetings were notorious for lasting for hours; Jacob doubted that even half of it was business.
As the wolves left the community center for the cool fall air, Jacob and Leah said their goodbyes to Jared and Sam, or Jacob did. Leah just muttered something intelligible, still too upset at their earlier comments about her being Beta to give any type of polite farewell.
"Sam's kinda sexist, isn't he?" Jacob asked as they walked back. It wasn't a long walk to the more residential area of the reservation, where both the Clearwaters and the Blacks lived, although both houses were nestled in the trees, with no immediate neighbors. Neither needed a coat, despite the weather, and both had walked previously, so it felt silly to transform for such a short walk.
"What?"
"Sam's kinda sexist," Jacob repeated, "Doesn't think a girl can be Beta, totally content to let his fiancé just stay at home and cook for him even though he doesn't even have a real job…"
"It won't be a girl," Leah mocked cruelly.
"See? Kinda sexist."
Leah quietly considered this before speaking, "He once said that Rachel was too ambitious."
"Rachel isn't too ambitious," Jacob said automatically. Rachel was a lot of things - annoying and nagging and a giant nerd who liked numbers and math too much - but she wasn't too ambitious. Wanting to get a Ph.D. was a fitting goal for someone who could get through her undergraduate degree in two calendar years. "What an asshole. Does Paul know he thinks that? I bet Paul would fight him if he heard that Sam thought that."
"It was a few years ago that he said that, so maybe he's changed his mind," Leah shrugged, "But I'll be sure to mention in front of Paul the next time I see him. It'd be funny to see him deck Sam."
"Make sure I'm there, too."
"We can do it at your birthday bonfire in a few weeks. It can be my present to you. I'll be sure to work it into the conversation somehow," Leah smiled deviously at Jacob. They had almost reached the point where the road split and they would go separate ways. It had been a surprisingly enjoyable walk, Jacob thought to himself. Leah wasn't that bad, after all. His decision to pick her for Beta paid off.
"See ya later, Leah."
"See ya, Jake."
It was just a little bit farther till he reached his own house, but the walk home felt just a little lonely without Leah.
A/N: I am fully aware of how insanely long this chapter is but I already made so many cuts to it and I couldn't move anything without messing up the rest of the timeline so here we are. I think (hope) the next chapter really will be shorter.
I absolutely love the comments and feedback I've received, it makes me so happy. Thanks for reading and please let me know your thoughts!
