Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer, not me.
Author/Note 1: This story is the sequel to Our Dawn 5. For the ones who don't know anything about Our Dawn Series, you can always read Our Dawn 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and Our Dawn Series Specials but if you don't want to bother I have a resume on my profile page. As it would be expected this is a next generation story and as such, it's focused on Jake and Leah's children.
A/Note 2: A huge thank you to everyone who reviewed Our Dawn Series so far.
A/Note 3: I'm not a native English speaker so I'm sorry for my grammar and spelling. Thank you for reading.
Alpha
Book II – The Protector
Harrison Black
70. Surprise
We couldn't convince Hannah to go back to La Push. She was too scared and didn't believe that the wolves she had seen weren't dangerous. Rhea begged and tried to reason with her but Hannah didn't budge. She told us that she would rather stay with her abusive ex-boyfriend than going back to where the monsters lived.
We left Peter Millson's house defeated but I decided I couldn't leave without Season's siblings. Things were much easier with Season's mother. She seemed quite eager to get rid of her children and never asked about her oldest daughter.
The relief I saw written all over the kids' faces when they entered the car assured me that this was the right thing to do. So I drove and promised them that whatever happened they would never go back to their parents.
"So they're not worried about Hannah Marsh knowing the truth but they grounded me because I caused Levi to phase?" Sarah's outburst didn't take me by surprise. We were preparing Isaac's bedroom to temporarily accommodate Ryan and Norah. I had just spoken to our father on the phone and he didn't seem concerned about the latest events regarding Hannah.
"What you did was dangerous, Sarah."
"I didn't know he was going to phase!"
"You put everyone in danger! The packs were lucky that they didn't kill you all. Jane and Alec alone can wipe out an entire army!"
"Fine... side with them. I don't care."
I shrugged. Sarah was being a brat again.
"I'm not siding with anyone." I sighed. "You're seventeen years old, Sarah. You're not a kid anymore. You should know better."
"Everyone treats me like I'm a child in this family, Harry!"
"Because you've been doing stupid things."
"Okay, I admit that I shouldn't have convinced Levi to go with me. It was a bad decision but I apologized and tried to help him."
"It's not just that. What about marrying Jay when you're underage? What about your obsession with becoming a wolf? Do you have any idea the trouble that will cause us if you phase?"
"That's all I am to you, isn't it? No one gives a damn about my feelings! No one cares about me!"
"We do care about you. That's why we don't want this life for you! You have no idea about the problems you'll have to face if you become a wolf. You're different from all of us, Sarah! Can't you see that?"
Sarah stared at me with a piercing gaze and that was when I realized that she knew. She was perfectly aware of what she was and about the problems she would face.
"You do know, don't you?"
"I will be an alpha by birthright just like you, William, and Isaac. And I will choose my mate as I please. I will free Jay from the imprint and we will leave this place together like we had planned before."
"Who told you about this? The spirits?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes! It does! Because whoever told you about this doesn't give a flying fuck about what might happen to you! Jay's imprint isn't going to break! And even if you choose him as your mate, he'll feel conflicted. Do you really want to put him in that position? What the hell is your plan? Force him to mate with you?"
"I'll give him a choice."
"No, you won't. You'll give him an ultimatum. He won't choose you by free will, Sarah. If his wolf chooses you it will be because he wants to mate. If he doesn't choose you it's because the imprint pull is too strong. Either way, Jay is trapped and bound up with iron ropes. Besides, by the time you get into heat, you'll have wolves from every pack after you, until one of them claims you as his. Do you know what that means? Is that what you want? To be hunted like a piece of meat and then possibly raped by someone you know?"
Sarah glared at me. She was tense, trembling, and her eyes were watering. Then she just turned her back on me and left the room, shutting the door with more strength than needed. I had no idea that Sarah and William were so alike. They shared the explosive temper and the legendary Clearwater's stubbornness that dad was always talking about.
I was starting to feel sorry for my parents.
xxxxxxxxxx
Ryan and Norah were excited when I told them that tomorrow morning we would leave La Push to meet their sister. They were decent kids and I really meant the promise I had made them. They didn't deserve to live in fear so I would make sure they didn't have to set foot on the Makah Reservation again.
JJ's birthday party was a great opportunity for the kids to have some fun. I could tell mom and dad were really proud of our youngest brother. Out of the five of us, Jacob Junior was the only one who had inherited all of the characteristics of both the Clearwater and the Black families. He was good-natured and curious like Uncle Seth, happy and energetic like dad, clever and obstinate like mom, generous and humble like Granddad Billy, and strong-willed and attentive like Grandma Sue.
Only our family and closest friends came to JJ's party. Bella and Edward had visited my brother first thing in the morning to give him their present. Mom and dad had always tried to convince the Cullens not to give us expensive things because they didn't want us to have more than what we needed, but the Cullens never listened. This year, JJ had received the ultimate telescope for beginners in the market.
It was also at JJ's party that I realized there were now different groups within our family and friends. Dad's pack was surrounding him near the food table while mom and Aunt Rachel were placing more food on the grill. They were discussing pack related subjects about the new members of the White pack.
Lance was worried that so far Alex and Adam didn't have the chance to properly face a leech, and even if they did, no one knew how they would react because they didn't have any training. He wanted to send both boys over for a few weeks so dad and the others could teach them how to hunt and kill vampires.
The present wolves were not against it but mom and dad were a bit apprehensive. With more new wolves around things could get complicated. Jay and Levi's quarrel was an indication that new blood in the pack didn't necessarily mean more strength. It could also mean more trouble. Besides, Alex and Adam wouldn't have their alpha around to control them.
Isaac's pack was reunited under one of the trees in our backyard. EJ was the only one missing. He was drinking at the table while receiving death glares from his father. Kim, Maddie, Emily, Meredith, Dawn, and Aunt Gwen were taking care of the kids while making sure the younger ones were eating properly.
Ryan, Norah, Elijah, Casey, Lilly, Seth Junior, Kieran, Amelia, and Chloe were watching JJ assembling his new telescope, while the younger kids, Kyu, Susie Leigh, Connor, and Amber were stealing candies from the tables.
Jared and Kim's twin daughters Julia and Jaelle were talking about boys with my cousins Denise and Deborah. Denise shared more features with her father than with her mother. Even her personality was more like Uncle Embry's than Aunt Rebecca's. Deborah was the opposite. She had Uncle Paul's eyes and nose, but she had inherited Aunt Rachel's temper.
"I don't know what to do." My twin brother's voice interrupted my observation of the people around us.
"About what?"
"Everything." He was looking at Rhea who was chatting quietly with Sarah and Ella. "Now I understand what dad meant when he said we should let things happen naturally."
When dad told us that he was trying to make us understand that when you don't follow the natural order of things, you're forced to face more problems than other people. Like him and mom did.
"Your situation is different." I tried to make Will feel better.
"Yeah, I know. Mine is a lot worse." He said in a desperate voice. "Rhea and I don't have a house, and her family won't help us. At least mom and dad had Grandma Sue and Granddad Billy, and the pack, of course."
"You'll manage."
"I can always rob a bank." He joked.
"Do you remember the Armstrong family? They have a small house near the Uley's lands and they've been trying to get rid of it for a while. Dad wanted to buy it once, to have another auto shop but he abandoned the idea when we left for Seattle."
"And?"
"You can buy it."
"The house is a dump. Kids go there to shit and smoke weed."
"Get rid of it and build a new one."
Will contemplated the idea. With help from the packs, it would be easy to destroy the small house and build a new house from scrap.
"I don't have enough money."
I knew he was going to say that. My brother had never been a money-saving person. He would usually spend every cent of his paycheck every month and now we weren't even working so we didn't have any income.
"I can help. I have some savings. You can pay me back later."
"Are you serious?" William asked me surprised. "What about you and Season?"
"I don't think I'll need the money anytime soon. We have to stay hidden for now and we have everything we need so... the money is yours."
William hugged me and suddenly he was a lot more relaxed. I guess that the thought of not having a place to live with his pregnant girlfriend was worrying him so much that he had turned somber and pessimistic.
"Thanks, Harry. You saved me."
"Oh, don't thank me yet. You still have to tell everyone."
Will frowned but there wasn't time to continue our conversation because at that moment Jay and Levi started arguing and we immediately joined them to avoid a physical confrontation.
"I've told you a million times, Morris, I don't sleep with little girls! That's your department, not mine!" Levi growled. Now that he had finally cut his long hair, Levi had become more frightening. Despite being two years younger than Jay, they were the same height and in a fight, they would probably be able to cause the same damages to one another.
"You were looking at her!"
"No, I wasn't." Levi's voice faltered for a second suggesting he was lying but no one noticed. "And even if I was, I can look at whoever I want! Besides, you don't see me complaining whenever I catch you ogling my sister, do you?"
By then, Jay and Levi's argument had already caught the attention of everyone at the party. Isaac went to stand between the two.
"Calm down, Jay. Don't make me do something I'll regret." He said.
"I saw her leaving your place the other day!" Jay said trembling with rage and ignoring Isaac's words. "You've been trying to seduce her, haven't you?"
"Seduce her? Are you fucking hard of hearing? I don't date little girls! She went there uninvited and had the nerve to accuse me of starting the rumors! As if I wanted to be involved in this mess!"
"I thought you had started the rumors as a payback for turning into a..." Sarah stopped herself before she said too much. "And because you saw me with the damn pregnancy test!"
I moved to my sister's side because I didn't trust in Jay or Levi to be able to protect her if one of them actually morphed and because Sarah's intervention had only made things worse.
"Yeah... me and everyone at the drugstore!" Levi shot back. "No one in the drugstore was blind, you idiot!"
"Don't call her that!" Jay took a step forward but Danny and Quinn pulled him back.
"I was there to buy a test for a classmate!"
"No, you weren't," Deborah said defiantly. "And everyone at school knows about you and Jay, right Dee?"
Denise didn't confirm Deborah's words. Instead, she threw an apologetic glance at my sister.
"Liar!" Sarah yelled back at our cousin.
"Nelly told everyone!" Deborah replied. "You've been secretly meeting with Jay Morris."
"What the hell is going on?" Dad broke the circle that had been made around the two arguing boys and he gave a stern look at Sarah.
"Nothing, Uncle Jake," Deb whispered slightly intimidated by my father's sudden appearance.
Sarah snorted throwing Deborah a glare that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand.
"I've heard what you said Deb, and I want to know if you're saying the truth because if you are that means my daughter has lied to me. So, how can you prove that Sarah has been secretly meeting Jay Morris?"
"We haven't been together, sir," Jay said nervously.
"I didn't ask you. I asked my niece." Dad's eyes never left Deborah.
"Nelly Melrose said that she gave Sarah the keys to Jay's house so they could... make out and do things in secret." Deb staggered a bit.
"Did you meet my daughter in your house alone?" Dad turned to Jay.
"Once, sir. And nothing happened."
"When?"
"Two weeks ago and we haven't met ever since. So it's not mine." Jay said. "I bet it's his." He added pointing to Levi.
Sarah was crying silently now. Not because dad had found out about her meeting with Jay two weeks ago, but because Jay was convinced she had slept with Levi.
"You met her after imprinting on my sister, and you accuse me of sleeping with her? You're a fucking asshole!" Levi snarled.
"Be thankful that today's my son's birthday otherwise one of you would already be dead!" Dad growled looking at Jay and Levi.
"I never touched Sarah." Jay insisted. His head was hung in shame because he knew Ella was there witnessing everything. Apparently, Ella and Jay weren't a couple yet, but the imprint bond was undeniable.
"I don't have any explanations to give. I'm not interested in underage girls but even if I were, it wouldn't be in your daughter." Levi stated facing my dad who looked at him amused by his sudden outburst.
"Why? You think you're too good for me?" Sarah suddenly snapped at Levi.
"Hell yeah! I'm pretty damn sure I'm too good for a little, deceitful, conceited brat who thinks she's so damn smart and ends up falling in love and getting knocked up by stupid assholes like Morris!"
"For the last time, I'm not pregnant!" Sarah yelled. And now, she definitely had the attention of every person at our brother's party. Even the kids at stopped playing and were watching the scene.
"Oh, I really hope you're not!" Mom told her. "Because if you are, you'll be grounded for life!"
"It was for me," Rhea's voice was weak and uncertain but everyone heard her. "The pregnancy test was for me. Sarah was only trying to help. I never thought she'd be in trouble. I apologize for that."
Standing right next to me, William muttered a few profanities but he didn't do anything to deny what Rhea had just confessed.
The silence was then interrupted by someone clapping and we all watched as EJ got up from the table abandoning his beer, and walked up until he was between my mom and my dad. He hugged them both and grinned wildly.
"This is such a great surprise Uncle Jake, Aunt Leah! What a joyful afternoon this is! We're not just celebrating JJ's birthday anymore, but also the happy announcement about your first grandchild! So... who's going to invite the White family to join us?"
Dad was still recovering from the announcement but mom, she was close to bursting into flames. I was surprised that she didn't kill EJ on the spot.
Sarah, Jay, and Levi were forgotten but another argument was about to start. However before mom could say anything, JJ approached William.
"I'm going to be an uncle?" He asked excitedly.
Will looked at our youngest brother puzzled by the sudden question. Everyone was waiting for his answer.
"Yeah, kid." He pulled Rhea so she was now standing next to him and he held her hand tightly. "You're going to be an uncle."
By looking at my mother's eyes, I knew that JJ's party was over.
xxxxxxxxxx
Mom left a few minutes before I joined my dad for breakfast and by the look on his face, I knew he hadn't slept much.
"She's still angry?" I asked sitting down across from him.
"Yeah... it's going to take a while. She's the most stubborn person I know. She's not going to admit that it was her fault."
After JJ's party, mom had tried to speak to William about Rhea's pregnancy but they ended up arguing and William turned his back on her and left without as much as an explanation. She was truly hurt by his actions.
"Will she ever accept Rhea and the baby?"
"Of course," Dad assured. "This is just the shock..."
"Because she's going to be a grandmother?"
"Because we're going to have the Whites as our in-laws," Dad explained.
"She needs to get over her past with Rhea's aunt." I thought aloud.
"I've told her that all night long but Vanessa did a lot of things to ruin Leah's reputation within the community. And your mother... she's not the forgiving type of person."
I was very aware of that.
"What about you, dad? Are you happy about this?"
"I'm happy if William is happy." He stated. "And curiously, I think he is."
Dad didn't share mom's hatred for the White family. He didn't consider them close friends, but he certainly didn't hate them. He had actually shown some concern for Rhea's well-being yesterday when he told her that she would not be forced to train anymore and her only concern should be to rest and take care of herself and the child she was carrying.
"So, you're okay with being a granddad, right?"
"Sure." He said with a warm smile. "You're not trying to tell me that you and Season are also expecting, are you?" He grinned.
"No! Of course not!"
"But you've been... practicing, haven't you?" He insisted.
"How much did you bet?"
Dad laughed.
"What makes you so sure that there's a bet going on?"
"I guess I'm smarter than I look."
"Don't you want to help your old man winning some money?"
"I'm going to think about it."
"Fair enough."
"Dad, can I make you a personal question?"
"Sure."
"When did you know that you were over Bella? When did you know that you loved mom more than you loved your first girlfriend?"
"Well, technically Bella was never my girlfriend. And... it's difficult to explain."
"I've got time."
"Bella was a nice girl. She was different from all of the girls I knew, she wasn't very social and she was shy but I could talk to her openly about many things. When I knew that she was involved with the Cullens, I wanted to protect her and take her away from them, from him... because I knew she would get hurt and I cared for her. It was my job as a protector. Somewhere between my job and my personal feelings, I think I started to like her. I wanted to be there whenever she needed me, and I wanted her to choose me instead of Edward but I always knew she loved him more." He fell silent for a couple of seconds. "And then she was turned."
"So you never really got over her?"
"That's what I thought in the beginning. I was conflicted. I was a wolf, she was a vampire. We were natural enemies yet I still cared for her. But I didn't experience true love with Bella. With Bella things were easy. She was sweet and had a good heart but she wasn't what I needed. I needed Leah's fire. Your mother is a tornado that can chew up my ass anytime she wants and that only makes me love her more."
"But when did you know that you loved mom and not Bella?"
"When I learned I could live without one but not without the other." He confessed. "And it blew me out of my mind when I realized it was Leah I couldn't live without. Because quite frankly sometimes I just wanted to murder her. She used to make me go insane, she still does that, of course..." He trailed off.
According to dad we can forget about our first love and find someone else. He had done it and mom had done it too. Now they were happy because I knew the difference between people who were together by convenience and people who were together because they loved each other. And my parents were in love.
But what about me? It was time to go back to Season and I felt that I wanted to go to Chicago and join her at Edward's old house, however, there was something deep inside of me that was still binding me to La Push. Was it Rhea? Could I still have feelings for her? Did I really want to go? Or did I want to stay?
"Harry?" My dad's voice pulled me back to reality.
"Yes?"
"Last night you said you wanted to speak to me about Hannah Marsh." He recalled. "So, what's going on?"
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