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 I – The Third
Isaac Black
94. First Trial
Carlisle had borrowed his office to accommodate Marcus. The old vampire was used to have his own study where he would spend hours reading and writing. He wasn't very social so he stayed inside that room almost 24 hours a day. He had arrived three days ago and despite knowing about our plan, he was still reluctant to help us.
Marcus could sense relationships or bonds between people. His ability could help us identify the Conductor because he or she would have a connection with either Dana or Sophia. Or even with both but the vampire was not convinced. I had the feeling that he was afraid to face his wife's spirit.
"Wouldn't you be?" Edward asked emerging from behind a tall tree.
'It depends on the circumstances.'
"She's dead. He's not." Edward put on a sad look. "I never met Didyme but I've heard a lot about her. She was kind and didn't deserve what happened. Marcus feels guilty about his wife's death. He couldn't protect her when she needed him the most. It's like what happened between Jacob and you after that werewolf's attack."
'If he hears what she has to say, maybe he'll stop feeling guilty. Don't you think?'
"Maybe,"
I understood Marcus' point of view. What if Didyme blamed him for her death? What if she didn't forgive him for carrying on without her? What if all the love she had once felt for her husband had turned into hate? It was a complicated situation. I couldn't deny it.
'Marcus doesn't have to be present when we invoke her spirit. You or Carlisle can talk to her.' I thought. 'We really need to have Marcus on our side, Edward. We can't do this without him. His ability is crucial. You have to convince him to help us.'
"I know, kid. We're trying our best."
'I have to get back. The first trial is about to start.'
"Sure. I'll call if he changes his mind."
I left Edward and ran towards the cliffs. The first trial was going to start there and I wanted to watch. Charlotte had trained us for two days and yesterday she had told us that she didn't have anything else to teach us.
"I've told you how newborns think, react, and fight. I've taught you how to avoid their attacks, how to cut to their defenses, and how to kill them. A battle isn't something you can predict but after the last training I'd say you're ready to take down a newborn on your own."
I had arrived just in time. My parents were already there and listening to Charlotte's last words.
"Peter and I will impersonate newborns. You all have thirty minutes to win the fight."
'Singular fights. EJ and Quinn are going first.' Dad told me. 'Where were you?'
'Talking to Edward.' I said though it wasn't the whole truth. I had met Edward by chance when I was returning from the Makah Reservation.
'Your pack is your priority, Isaac.' Mom recalled.
'I know, I'm sorry...'
"You get to choose your opponent," Peter said. He sounded excited and so did my packmates. All except for one.
'He's been trying hard.' Mom said defending Danny.
EJ faced Peter and Quinn faced Charlotte. I watched both fights but I focused on what Danny was feeling. He was difficult to analyze. His wolf was reacting to the battle situation happening before us. I could feel he was worried about his packmates and eager to watch them win against the vampires but there was something deep within his mind that I was failing to understand. At some point, I felt despair and anxiety but I couldn't tell why he was feeling like that. EJ and Quinn were not in trouble. Actually, they were fighting surprisingly well.
'The boy has too much on his mind.' Dad informed. 'He reacts too intensely. He's nothing like Paul or EJ.'
Dad was right. Danny was very different from his father and older brother. He showed concern for other people often and tried to help out whenever he could without asking anything in return. He wasn't selfish and didn't like to compete with other packmates. Thinking about it, he didn't have anything in common with the Lahote family.
Even on the battlefield, Danny was the opposite of his father and brother. Uncle Paul and EJ were impulsive, they liked a good challenge and their competitive nature would never allow them to turn down a fight. Danny didn't like to fight at all. He would always try diplomacy first.
'That's curious.' Dad said reading my latest thoughts about my cousin. 'A wolf does not have compassion or tries to talk to vampires to avoid a confrontation... Danny sure is peculiar.'
'EJ won his fight after fourteen minutes and twenty-nine seconds.' Mom announced.
I watched as my cousin returned to his human form and smiled triumphantly at us. He had a huge wound on his thigh that would probably leave a nasty scar but he didn't care.
Quinn took nineteen minutes and twelve seconds to overpower Charlotte. His wounds were more superficial than EJ's.
'They both passed the first trial.' Mom said. 'Jay and Danny are next.'
'Actually, I think we should resume the trial tomorrow.' I suggested.
'Why?' Both my parents asked.
'EJ and Quinn deserve to celebrate.' My answer didn't convince them but they both nodded and went to inform the vampires.
I had postponed the first trial because I knew that Danny was going to fail and it would be a huge blow in his ego if Jay managed to pass the trial and he didn't.
"Are we really going to celebrate?" EJ asked as we were all walking home in human form.
"Yes."
"I'll get the food," Jay said.
"I have to go to a place first, but I'll be at the house in an hour," I announced.
"Sure baby alpha. We'll wait for you, don't you worry."
xxxxxxxxxx
Marcus stared at me for a long time. Ten, maybe fifteen minutes. I had entered Carlisle's office unannounced when only Esme and Rosalie were at home with their anti-social guest.
If he wanted to know the truth about his wife's death, he'd have to help us. Edward and the Cullens had been trying to tell him the importance of his assistance for two days now but I was done waiting. His help could be the difference between going to war or sparing us to a deadly battle. And I wanted to spare my pack to that fate at all costs.
"So you want to talk to my dead wife." He finally said. His voice was sore and deep. Memories of his dead wife had probably upset him.
"I do."
"How?"
"I'm sure my parents or the Cullens already told you."
"I want to hear it again."
"Dana Hansen is a Vessel. Her body can harbor spirits of dead people…"
"Dee Dee was a vampire, not a human." He interrupted me.
"She was a human before she was a vampire."
"So you can call her spirit back into a girl's body?"
"That's the plan."
"And then what?"
"Then we talk to her. We listen to what she has to say and we learn the truth about her death. Then it's up to you."
"What if..."
"I know what you're going to say. You don't know if you really want to know the truth because you're afraid of the answer. I understand... but I think you deserve to know and she deserves her peace. If her brother did kill her... it was treason and Aro deserves to be punished for that coward act."
"If he did, I'll kill him myself," Marcus said violently. "But if he didn't... it was my fault. I shouldn't have let her fight alone."
"She was a vampire. A deadly one or so I've heard. It wasn't your fault, it could never be your fault."
For an instance, Marcus seemed moved by my words.
"Okay, boy, I'll help you but I won't do anything until Scarlett arrives."
I had to agree with Marcus because I knew he wouldn't change his mind. He had promised to help us but not until the vampire-child left his ex-friends and came to join him. I didn't know Scarlett but Rosalie and Emmett used to describe her as a bright, intelligent, and audacious young girl who despite being with the Volturi was nothing like them.
She had helped Harry in Italy and it was thanks to her that we knew a lot of information about the Volturi but the fact that she was the most powerful vampire of all times made me naturally inclined to distrust her. Besides I couldn't find a reason why Marcus wanted her by his side.
Little of what they were doing made sense to me. If Scarlett was as strong and powerful as everyone said, why hadn't she just killed Aro and the others? And why was she still with the Volturi? If she was helping Marcus she should be here by his side. Was she really thinking about the Cullen's? Was she really afraid that if she left the coven Aro could retaliate against her friends?
Was it safe to trust those two?
"Make sure you find a way for me to walk around your Reservation. I can only identify the conductor if I meet her or him." He said gravely. "And make sure the other wolves stay away from me. I have a highly sensitive nose."
I nodded.
"You may leave, young wolf. Call me when you have all the arrangements taken care of."
I left the Cullen's manor with apprehension. We didn't know if the conductor lived in La Push, actually, it was possible that he or she wasn't a Quileute. Dana was a Makah girl and Sophia was only a quarter Native-American. But we had to start somewhere. The problem was that the Tribal Council was not very fond of having a vampire walking around La Push, much less an ex-Volturi.
So I was going to have to find a way to convince Granddad Billy, Grandma Sue, dad, and Sam to allow Marcus to come into our Reservation daily. And I didn't have any idea of how long this search was going to take.
'You're fucked.' Denis, who was on patrol said.
'Yeah... I know. I have to come up with a plan fast.'
'No, you're really, really fucked! Your cousin is about to burn down the Vacant House.'
'What?'
'He's throwing a hell of a party! There are at least a dozen kids inside that house drinking and smoking weed.'
'For crying out loud!'
I ran faster through the woods. I said we should celebrate but a party? Really? Was EJ that stupid?
Maybe I was the stupid one. I should've never suggested a celebration in the first place. I should've told them to have some rest instead.
Denis was right, there were a lot of people inside and even more people outside the Vacant House circling a huge fire in the backyard. People I had never seen in my life. There was music playing and lots of beer bottles on the floor. I scanned the area for EJ but he was nowhere to be seen.
"What the hell is going on?" I asked when I spotted Quinn.
"We're celebrating!" He cheered. "You better put a shirt on, those two girls over there seem quite eager to jump your bones, boss." He laughed. I ignored the comment.
"Are you drunk?"
"No... I mean not yet."
"Where's EJ?"
"Around."
"And the others?"
"Jay left before the party started. Probably went to see his imprint. And Danny... He was here a minute ago."
I ran a hand over my face. This was insane. I had to get those people out of there fast. Jay should've stayed there but the imprint was taking a toll on him and now I had no one to rely on except for Quinn.
"Who are these people?"
"EJ said they're his future best friends."
Great. My cousin was selling drugs and booze to those kids. Dad was going to kill us all.
"You have to help me, Quinn. I need these people out of here now! If my parents arrive and see this, we're dead."
Quinn blinked at me and then nodded but before we could do anything, two young girls came running at him. One was holding a beer, the other was holding a hamburger. I was mortified when I realized who they were.
"They simply showed up." Quinn tried to defend himself when he saw my glare. He was flushed and nervous.
"You're not sleeping with them, are you?" I growled at Quinn who recoiled. The last thing I needed was Jared Cameron after one of my packmates but if Quinn was playing the two girls he was as good as dead. Jared would kill him and I was inclined to help him.
"Of course not! Who the hell do you think I am?"
"They're underage and off the limits! Leave them alone!"
"Is that an order?"
"No, that's a piece of advice. A piece of very good advice."
"Hey, you want a drink or something to eat?" Julia asked approaching us. "Hi, Isaac!" She greeted.
"Hey, Jules. Jaelle." I returned the gesture. "I was just telling Quinn that this party is about to be over really soon, so you two should head back home."
"Oh, really?" Jaelle was disappointed just like her twin sister.
"You need a ride home?" I asked.
"Well, we came with Preston but we lost him," Julia stated.
"Quinn, go with them. Make sure they get home safely."
Quinn looked at me again, a bit embarrassed but he left with the girls without muttering a word.
In the meantime, I found the power box of the house and I turned off the energy. Without music and electricity, everyone started to complain loudly. A few seconds later EJ came from upstairs. He was with two girls I had never seen before.
"Do you mind turning the power on again?"
"Actually, yes, I do."
EJ rolled his eyes, displeased.
"We had a deal, EJ."
"I've behaved during the trial! I won against that leech... what's the problem, baby alpha? Can't I just have a little fun?"
"This isn't fun, EJ! Look what they're doing to the house? We live here!"
A young boy, probably around fifteen was throwing up on the porch. Two girls were making out on the grass next to the remains of EJ's TV set. The whole house smelled like liquor and weed, and there was food all over the floor and couches.
"You said we could celebrate!"
"We could celebrate. By we I meant us! The five of us!"
"I can't be with you 24/7! I need the company! If you know what I mean..." He winked at the girls next to him. "These are Alma and Mattie. They're from Forks."
"You're such an asshole. Get everyone out and let's start cleaning!"
EJ ranted but eventually, he realized I wasn't letting him get off the hook so he did what I asked him to do and then he sat down on the couch smoking from his pipe.
"I was about to get laid, you know?"
"You're hopeless."
"And you're a killer joy. Your parents aren't coming back tonight. Aunt Leah's on patrol and your father is never here when your mother is out there."
"Denis saw you! If Denis knows, dad will know too."
"So what? We were celebrating a victory!"
"You invited over twenty kids from Forks and the Reservation so you could get laid and sell weed and booze! Come on, EJ! Give me a break!"
"I only invited Mattie, Alma, Seymor, and Frank. I just... I never thought they would bring their friends along."
"Right..."
"Just sit here and have a drink. Things will get better."
I cleaned the house the best I could, and then I went back to the living room to have a word with my cousin but he was snoring on the couch. I should have anticipated this. He had been making an effort to follow orders and behave properly but sometimes he couldn't help himself. Like tonight.
And I still had to go and put the fire down before someone saw the flames and called the fire brigade.
"You want some help?" Danny came to join me then. "With the fire..."
"You could've helped me cleaning the house."
"Sorry... I never cleaned anything. It's always Deborah who helps mom."
"Let's go," I called him and we both left the house. The night sky was clean which was a miracle since it had been raining since Monday morning. The orange and red flames were consuming the last burning wood.
With shovels, we started digging a hole on the ground to bury the burnt logs.
"I'm leaving," Danny said all of a sudden and I immediately knew what he meant.
"Why?"
"I don't fit in here."
"Of course you do. You're a wolf just like the rest of us. You're family."
"I'm a burden to everyone. You had to postpone the trials to avoid seeing the vampires beat me to a pulp."
"That's not why I..."
"Save it, Isaac. I know better than anyone that I'm not ready. If I had fought today, I would've lost and it would be an embarrassment for all of you." Danny sat down on the ground looking defeated.
"So you're going to quit?"
"Look... I know you expect me to man up and accept my place in the pack, but it's hard. And it's not just because I feel that I'm the weakest wolf, or because my brother keeps pushing my buttons and calls me a girl. It's because I feel overwhelmed. A few months ago all I was thinking was about how to fix the battery of Uncle Jake's old motorcycle like he had asked me to do and how to ask a girl out without making a fool of myself. Now I spend my time sleeping, eating, and training battle moves with two disgusting vampires. I can't think about Yuna anymore because wolves imprint and then everything goes to shit. I can't think about leaving the Res because I'm supposed to stay and protect people from vampires. I can't think about going to University and become an architect like I always dreamed of."
"Danny... I know what you're feeling."
"Do you? But you're not like me, Isaac. You were fifteen when you left the Reservation and went to the University many miles away from here. You've graduated. You've met the world outside this reality. I didn't! I'm stuck here!"
"You and everyone else. But what choice do we have?"
"We can quit. The wolves from Canada are quitting. Our parents will quit eventually and we don't need so many wolves."
"If we didn't need so many wolves, Theo and August would not have phased."
Theo and August were not part of any pack yet. With so many alphas in the area, it was difficult for them to submit to one. So dad and the others figured the best thing to do was to send them over to Harry, who was moving to Campbell Island to assume the leadership of what was left of the White pack. That way the young wolves would also be away from Sarah which I knew was dad's main goal.
"You said it yourself. The pack doesn't need wolves who aren't ready for battle."
"You'll stay here. Protecting the Reservation. We can't all fight. There's always someone who has to stay here to ensure the safety of our people and our families." I announced.
That was something I wanted to discuss with dad. If the pack had to leave to fight the vampires, I wanted to leave Danny and Quinn behind, not just to support the wolves that dad would also leave but also because they deserved to be spared.
"Look, Danny... I'm not going to force you to stay against your will. If you want to leave us, you can go. But make sure you make the right decision. Are you really going to be able to sleep at night knowing that you left your family unprotected?" Danny looked at me but didn't say a word. "The trials will be resumed tomorrow. You and Jay will finish your training and then if we are summed for battle, you and Quinn will be here helping other wolves to secure Forks and La Push. If this plan doesn't suit you, you don't have to bother showing up tomorrow."
And with that Danny got up and entered the house alone.
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Take care,
Karisan.