Chap 3: Enlightened and Disgusted
Jacob's eyes were set on Sam not even acknowledging Paul or Jared as they shoved, hit and pulled on him. His pulse was ringing in his ear and his wolf was growling, they both were. His chest was heaving with barely controlled anger that rang from his toenails to hair follicles. The moonlight hitting Jacob made his eyes glow eerily almost glowing. Sam squared his shoulders and braced himself. Seeing Jacob and his pack back in La Push would mean war any other time, but now it didn't make sense. Sam's pack hasn't done anything to warrant any violence or the normal tension. So seeing Jacob walking toward him as angry as he was didn't add up.
Why is he here?
"Where is she?"-Jacob boomed, scaring the sleeping animals in the trees.
"Where's who? What are you talking about?"-Sam asked, chest heaving with his own anger. Jacob might be rightful alpha, but Sam is still an alpha too and Jacob was on his territory disrespecting him and his pack.
Jacob lunged for him, but Sam dodged him same time Paul and Jared used Jacob's own momentum to tackled him. Jacob threw them off easily and jumped back to his feet in a hostile stance. They tried grabbing him again but he shrugged out of their hold like it was nothing much like he'd done all around La Push and the whole way to Sam's house.
"Jake calm down let him speak."-Quil tried but Jacob growled at him, shutting him up.
"She's not here Jake. Maybe she went back."-Embry tried as he looked around and didn't spot her.
"I can smell her."-Jacob growled without taking his eyes off Sam. He started to sniff around the yard wildly.
"Sam where's Leah we know she crossed the treaty line? Where's my sister."-Seth exclaimed. Now that they saw Sam and how confused he is at their presence Seth isn't too worried that his pack has done something to her. But, they still hadn't found her and Jacob was getting angrier and more out of control with every passing second.
Jacob's sniffing led him back to Sam who was covered in her scent. He started growling dangerously and grabbed Sam by the throat.
"Where is my beta?"-he said slowly, teeth clenched.
"Sam!"-Emily gasped from the kitchen door when she saw Jacob's hands around her boyfriend's neck. At seeing Emily, Sam got out of Jacob's grip and squared off with the now taller alpha. Now that an imprint was near angry wolves, nothing else mattered and it was about to get ugly if one didn't back down. Sam no longer cared about Jacob's reason for being there only the safety of Emily around an incontrollable alpha wolf.
"Go back inside!"-Collin said hurriedly, pushing her through the door and slamming it behind her. Sam calmed down a little now that she was back in the house. Like magic his fear and anger dropped to a controllable level. He took a breath to calmed down, smoothing out his cropped hair.
"Jacob!"-Leah called, running into the yard. She'd heard the growling and yelling heading towards Sam's so she ran back to see what was wrong.
"Leah."-Jacob breathed and his body slacked from its tense stance. He breezed pass Sam as if he was nothing and gripped Leah up. He hugged her tightly, squeezing her. Seth ran up behind trying to push Jacob to hug his sister but failed miserably.
"What's wrong? What're you guys doing here? Is everything ok?"-Leah squeaked from Jacob squishing her.
"Where have you been? Are you hurt? Did they hurt you? Didn't I tell you not to come over the treaty line?"-Jacob sounded off, pulling back to examine every inch of her. He started sniffing her to smell for wounds that weren't visible.
"I'm fine I swear."-she breathed, swatting at him. Seth finally pushed Jacob, earning a growl, and hugged his sister. Jacob stepped back and allowed him since he was her brother. Quil and Embry nodded at her from behind Jacob. No need to go near her clearly Jacob wasn't in the mood to allow it.
"We thought they'd killed you."-Jacob said, swallowing. He was tempted to push Seth out of the way to hug Leah again. He had to touch her to calm himself down, reassuring she was alive and well. He decided to take deep breaths instead. Embry pat him on the back.
"What? Is that what you think? We would never do that. I'd never allow it even if they wanted to!"-Sam said incredulously his eyes were bugged out of his head. Sam's pack was offended. They'd never do that even with what's going on between the packs. It's Jacob who wants a fight not them.
"I thought they would too, but I had to talk to Sam."-Leah explained when she realized why the pack was worried. She smiled reassuringly at the pack over Seth's shoulder and nodded at Sam's. Seth stepped back and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Sam stood with his arms crossed, pissed off at Jacob's audacity to believe them capable of such a thing.
"Talk to Sam?"-Jacob frowned before looking over at him with a scoff. "For what?"-his said turning back to Leah. Sam growled.
"None of your business."-she snapped and Jacob growled but she ignored him unimpressed. "Why are you here?"-she asked and Jacob looked at her like she was stupid. Paul nodded at that question wanting to know himself. Heck he still didn't know why Leah had come.
"Hello! You disappear over the treaty line and ask why am I here?"-he asked incredulously, waving his arm in the direction of the treaty line.
"Sorry. I thought I'd get back before anyone noticed and I just didn't think you'd run after me."-she sighed with her hand on his shoulder. He grabbed her up in another hug. She rolled her eyes at him to the pack. Quil bit his lip to keep from smiling.
"Of course I did! I was all over La Push looking for you before I came here. I care about you Leah."-he said offended.
He pressed his face into her hair, breathing deeply. It calmed him down. His heart was still slowing down and his breathing labored and he didn't know what to do other than touch her and breathe her in. Leah smiled sweetly and hugged him back.
"I guess we should head back."-Seth suggested. Jacob ignored him, focused on Leah.
Sam watched them intently with a huge question. Nope. Two huge questions swimming in his head.
"Uh maybe we should go so everybody can cool off."-Quil suggested as he handed Jacob his shorts, noticing Sam wasn't calming down. Leah's eyes widened and she looked down, then up then down repeatedly just now realizing that Jacob was pressed up against her naked. He snatched the shorts and put them on quickly, throwing a blushing Leah a wink. Sam's head snapped back at that.
Both packs agreed with Quil sans the alphas who still wanted to argue, but they separated anyway. In the end Jacob got what he came for, so he was good to go.
"Sorry."-Jacob tossed uncaring to Sam's pack as he wrapped his arm around Leah's waist, pulling her flush to his side so she couldn't get away. I mean she wasn't going to, but this man just lost his mind having "lost" her; he wasn't giving her a second chance. Plus, he doesn't like her near Sam and his pack. She tried getting out of his grasp a few times but gave up when he didn't even budge.
Seth came up on her other side and she playfully shoved him making him smile. Quil and Embry walked behind, looking back occasionally to make sure no one tried anything. They hated the tension and they hated even more that it was against their fellow wolves. They hated this whole thing but there was nothing any non-alpha could do about it.
Sam's pack was giving him a run down on how Jacob bulldozed over the treaty line and around La Push and there was nothing any of them could do to stop him and what had happened leading up to his yard. Sam didn't hear a word. His ears were ringing and his head was swirling. After having just relived the worst times of his life he was almost hysterical having seen that display. After standing there frozen not hearing a word his pack was saying, Sam raced off after Jacob.
"Sam where are you going?"-Paul called before racing after him. They looked between each other worriedly as they tried to catch up. They couldn't even hold Jacob back to keep him from crossing the border or getting to their alpha. All they could do was slow him down and that wasn't by much. They did not want to fight Jacob's pack. Namely Jacob.
"Sam stop!"-Brady called from the back. Sam kept going because he had to know.
Jacob's pack was almost at the treaty line when they heard heavy footsteps and Sam's pack shouting his name. Jacob stopped and got in front of his pack taking a defensive stance.
"Get in front of Leah."-he ordered without turning around.
"Hey!"-Leah shouted as the pack pushed her behind them. She tried to push to the front, slapping and shoving. I mean she's the beta and she might not be as strong as they are but she's not helpless and she and Sam just made up so she could talk to him to calm him down because he was clearly still angry. Strategy over strength.
"Sam stop! They're going to think we're attacking them!"-Jared yelled. Sam finally stopped a few feet away from Jacob.
"What is it Sam?"-Jacob growled, looking behind him to make sure Leah was in the back. She was trying to peek over their shoulders, still shoving to get in the front but they wouldn't let her.
"Why are you here Jacob?"-Sam snarled. His eyes were intense as he watched Jacob. Jacob looked around confused as if to find the answer in the trees.
"I came to get Leah. That was obviously clear."-he said, crossing his arms. Is Sam slow? He has to be slow because it took him a long time to not only ask the question but missed him telling that to Leah all together.
"How are you here Jacob?"-Sam asked his next burning question, tilting his head slightly to the side. He felt like he couldn't breathe. Even Sam's pack didn't understand what he was doing.
"I already told yo-"-Jacob started.
"No, you told me why you're here not how."-Sam said as he took another step. Jacob drug his hands down his face before putting his hands on his hips.
"Sam what are you going on about? What's the difference? You're not even making sense. What do you mean how? I ran!"-He threw his hands in the air. Sam shook his head vehemently.
"Jacob you're imprinted."-he said accusingly.
"Yeah and so are you what's your point?"-Jacob sang as if Sam was a child.
"My point almighty alpha, is that you are imprinted on that half leech who's in danger of being ripped apart at a moment's notice and you left her, in danger, to come over the treaty line to get Leah."-Sam accused. Some of the wolves hummed, now getting what he was saying.
"My beta went over the treaty line there was no way I was going to sit back and not come and get her. That has nothing to do with having an imprint."-Jacob dismissed.
"But your imprint's life hangs in the balance. While you were over here getting Leah, we could've gone over the border and killed her and her family. We could've destroyed your imprint leaving her dead."-he said more accusatorily than explaining.
The packs looked from Sam to Jacob. Some thought Sam was over exaggerating, others thought he made a good point.
"I had to get Leah. I wasn't going to leave her for dead or for her to rejoin your pack. She has her family. Nessie was fine."-Jacob shrugged.
"But she might not have been."-Paul pointed out, stepping forward.
"I had to make a choice."-Jacob said, looking back at Leah who was listening intently. She didn't fully get what they were getting at but it was obviously important and she could feel the weight of it in the tension swirling around them.
"You don't have a choice when an imprint is involved. That's the problem."-Sam growled. He was shaking slightly. Brady put his hand on his arm to calm him down but he shrugged it off.
"I'm still imprinted."-Jacob defended, getting aggravated at this ridiculous line of questioning. He didn't understand why Sam was so mad or thought it was any of his business. If anything he should be happy Jacob cared enough about Leah to risk his life to save her.
"Nessie did ask you to stay but when you heard Leah went over the border you jumped through the window. You shouldn't have been able to do that."-Seth said nervously. Things were getting really weird and it was making him anxious. Seth hates being anxious.
"And you growled at her when she ran over to you."-Quil frowned remembering.
"He did?"-Leah asked dumbfounded. Sam's pack gawked at him while Sam shook his head angrily.
"Yup."-Embry said, shaking his head in amazement.
"But how?"-Jared swallowed. The imprinted wolves were beginning to get nervous. Jacob shrugged trying to figure out how.
"I mean Leah is my friend, a member of my pack and my beta. I had to find her."-he said scratching the stubble on his chin. He still didn't see it as that big of a deal. He could still feel the pull. But in that moment he noticed it was much weaker.
"You don't get to make a choice when an imprint is involved. When Emily came to the door all I could focus on was her. All I could think was to make sure she was safe since you were a real and legitimate threat. Nothing else mattered because the imprint didn't give me a choice. It wouldn't have given Paul, Jared or Quil a choice either. Heck, we've had to agree to let Quil come back and forth to visit Claire. You cared about Leah so much that you left Nessie vulnerable just to find her. How? You can't break an imprint Jacob. You can't."-Sam exclaimed feeling the air rush out of his lungs.
He remembered that he couldn't even spend time with Leah whenever Emily asked him to hang out with her and he would get upset whenever he told her no, but always caved. He couldn't even check on Billy at the hospital once he was allowed in to see Emily because his imprint was in distress. It wouldn't let him leave her.
What was happening? He loved Leah too but he couldn't make sure she was ok when she broke her hand on his face, so how could Jacob tear a war path to find her while his imprint lay vulnerable to death? If Sam couldn't surely Jacob can't and not for his Lee Lee.
They all looked at Jacob waiting for him to say something. He didn't know what to say at this point.
"Look I can still feel my imprint and even at this moment I'm going over the line to make sure she's ok and to apologize. I'm no more free from my imprint than you all are of yours."-he said worriedly. Imprints and imprinting is so complicated and is a sore subject for the wolves especially since they see what it can do to the wolf and those around him after being in Sam's head. The imprinted wolves from the past didn't even fully understand it.
The air was heavy.
"Sam calm down."-Leah said as she came from behind the pack. She put her hand on his chest. She knew Sam's mind was whirling and he was getting frustrated. Had this happened before Jacob imprinted and before her talk with him, she would be yelling at Sam for him being insulted at Jacob for leaving his precious imprint to come save her. But she gets it now and she knows he's thinking about her, about what he lost.
Sam looked down at her with pleading eyes.
"I tried Lee Lee. I tried and the elders told me to stop because you can't break an imprint. If I could've broken it we'd be together right now I swear."-he breathed, shaking from the onslaught of emotions. He held her hand in his over his heart.
Jacob growled and yanked her back, pushing her behind him. Sam's eye snapped up to Jacob's.
"Jacob move."-Leah huffed while trying to push him out of the way.
"If you had to pick between the two of them who would you choose?"-Sam demanded suddenly.
"Sam-"-Paul started to warn.
"Who Jacob?"-he shouted hysterically, silencing Paul.
"Sam I'm warning you."-Jacob growled stepping forward. His chest was beginning to heave with anger and he was using all of his control to not phase.
"Jacob please calm down."-Leah urged, grabbing his hand.
"It's ok Lee."-He reassured her with a squeeze of her hand, never taking his eyes off Sam. Sam's eyes snapped down to their linked hands. He took a deep breath and stood to his full height.
"If you had to pick between saving Leah and saving your leech imprint who would you choose and who would you let die?"-he asked, stepping in Jacob's face. Jacob squared off, taller than Sam and shoved Leah back. Seth came and stood in of front her due to how dangerous things were clearly getting.
"I'm never going to find out now am I Sam?"-Jacob asked threateningly.
"Oh really?"-Sam said tilting his head.
Before anyone could blink Sam took off over the border making a bee line for Nessie. The Cullens had heard the shouting and came over to where the wolves were but kept a lot of distance between them and stayed down wind. Edward, Bella and Rosalie were already pissed Jacob had left Renesme and now they were worried about this conversation. The tension was so high that if just a whiff of vampire hit them, all hell would break loose.
He broke lose anyway.
Sam's pack ran after him to pull him back over the treaty line but they weren't fast enough. Jacob stood frozen trying to think if this was really happening, if his eyes had really just told his brain they saw what Sam just did. That Sam had just crossed the border. His pack had taken off after Sam with only Quil waiting for him. He was imprinted on a young child too so this conversation was even heavier for him than the other wolves.
The Cullens whooshed forward snarling as they faced off with the wolves. Edward and Bella were in the front out to kill and were contorted showing the hideous creatures vampires really are. Rosalie grabbed Nessie and ran off with her.
"Don't hurt the wolves they're trying to stop him."-Carlisle tried. The Cullens didn't listen. All the wolves were running at them with an enraged alpha leading the charge. Time for listening was over and some of them were sick of the wolves anyway. Edward and Bella couldn't care less about Carlise's words. If the wolves died they died. Nobody was getting their paws on Renesme.
"We should've left. This is our fault."-Esme said, wishing she could cry. Carlisle was able to get in front of Emmett and throw him back while Esme got Alice and tossed her into a far-off tree. Now it was Jasper, Edward and Bella left.
Bella reached for Sam with her fangs out but Jared phased and clamped her in his jaws. They tumbled and tossed and fought with neither getting the upper hand.
Paul and Collin phased taking Jasper and then Seth and Embry phased focused on Edward. He was the fastest and hardest to get with his mind reading gift.
Leah being fast and focused solely on him, caught up to Sam but just when Edward got out of Seth and Embry's hold and he was reaching for Sam. He caught Leah by the throat instead, ready to tear her apart. Quil and Jacob had peeled off just when Carlisle got in front of Emmett and were catching up fast, but when Edward got a hold of Leah, Jacob phased and growled so loudly some of the others fighting had stopped and scrambled out of the way. Wolves and vampire.
Once Edward got his hands on Leah, Sam phased and got his teeth around his head. Edward let go of Leah for a second to fight Sam who was trying to maul him to death and it gave her time to phase and catch her breath. Edward had caught her off guard and in turn almost crushed her windpipe.
Jacob leapt through the air tackling both Sam and Edward. Sam skid and rolled into a nearby tree surrounded by brush, slamming into it. Jacob was tearing into Edward with blood lust as was Edward to Jacob. Sam watched as Jacob fought like he'd never fought before not even against the newborns. He didn't even care that Jared got the upper hand while fighting Bella and that she was badly injured. This wasn't Jacob this was all wolf…or was it?
Sam phased back to human and seized everyone's distractions and being hidden in the brush to turn and race after Rosalie and Nessie.
Rosalie had run south towards California knowing the wolves would assume she went north. But she didn't know Sam was able to follow right after her picking up her fresh scent. What she forgot was that there was a deadly wildfire blazing, destroying everything it touched. When she smelled the smoke she remembered the fires and skid to a stop but it was too late. She slid on ash and tumbled over a cliff and into a deep meadow that was surrounded by fire. She tried to jump back up to the cliff but it was much too high for her. Other than wolves, fire is the only thing that terrifies vampires and right now she was terrified.
Edward was trying to get his venom into Jacob while Jacob tried to shred him into tiny pieces. Jasper had stopped fighting Paul when Jacob growled, both suffering good injuries and Esme and Carlisle had gotten ahold of a battered Bella. Alice came back and stood by Jasper's side. Emmett had finally made his way over when he saw only Jacob and Edward were fighting. He looked around and noticed a missing wolf.
"Where's the other alpha?"-he asked worriedly and everyone stopped, looked to one another and sniffed the air trying to find his scent. Jasper found it first and instructed everyone to follow him. Emmett and Carlisle tried to break up Edward and Jacob but this was a long time coming between the two. It was much harder.
"Jacob!"-Leah called before phasing and showed him that Sam was after Nessie again. Edward, eavesdropping, saw and tried desperately to get out of Jacob jaws and dodge his excruciating paws.
Everyone else besides Leah, Emmett and Carlisle had left. She walked over to him tentatively before laying on her belly and scooting towards him. She made sure to keep her distance.
"Jacob."-she called and whined and whimpered. At that Jacob looked over at Leah. He growled at a worried Edward in his jaws before flinging him with all of his might somewhere out in the deep woods, knocking down trees as he soared. He trotted over to Leah and whined as he knelt over her.
"Jacob-"-Carlisle tried but he growled.
"Jake we gotta go."-Leah said and he saw the pack whizzing through the woods and forest with the Cullens to stop Sam from doing whatever it was he was going to do to an imprint. Nobody really cared about the Cullens but it's serious business to hurt an imprint. Even if it is a half leech they guessed.
Jacob stood looking from Leah to the two Cullen men and the path ahead. He was torn. He wanted to save his imprint but not put Leah was in danger and she was in danger as far as he was concerned with regards to Sam. He started to command her to stay behind but that would leave her here with them if they stayed and/or Edward when he eventually made his way back, so she'd be in even more danger here.
"Let's go."-he decided, and they followed the packs thoughts to California. Emmett went with them since his wife was in danger, but Carlisle stayed behind to wait for Edward to pull himself together and come back to the house.
Rosalie and Nessie were terrified as the flames licked around them. Every path Rosalie took led to fire. Even though they were vampires, they were tired of trying and failing to get up to the cliff so they gave up and tried to find another way but failed. They aren't used to failure or having their existence at risk, so panic set in quickly. The fires concealed their scents but since there was nowhere to go but forward and over, Sam looked over the edge once he reached it. Rosalie and Nessie saw him and started hissing. Sam took a step back and leapt over the huge cliff. It's much higher up than La Push cliffs but it's the same premise.
He landed hard and somersaulted a little due to the force but was fine all the same. Rosalie hissed and backed away with Nessie behind her.
"Give her to me blondie. I don't care about you."-he called.
"Never!"-Rosalie hissed.
"You Cullens never should've been here. My ancestors never should've signed a treaty with you. None of this would be happening if it wasn't for you."-Sam cried angrily, wiping at his face.
"I never wanted to be a vampire"-Rosalie shouted angrily.
"And I never wanted to be a wolf!"-Sam shouted back. He continued stalking forward until they were completely boxed in by fire.
Rosalie never wanted to be a vampire but she could've asked Carlisle to end it for. She still chose to keep her life as the undead. Sam, well he had no choice no say and no option. He was living and breathing and has a family where as she's dead and all of her family has been dead for centuries. She's miserable and has nothing to live for but still chooses to do so.
Sam lunged and grabbed Rosalie and held her to the fire. She squirmed and hissed trying to get her fangs in him, but he had her head at an angle. She dug her claws into his arm drawing blood but he didn't care. He threw her back up the path and snatched up a terrified Nessie. Just then the other Cullens and the packs arrived. The Cullens fell back hissing as they scrambled to get away from the heat of the fire. Rosalie tried to snatch Nessie but the winds kept blowing flames at her.
The pack phased back and looked at their options. As they figured out how to get to Sam he knocked over a burning tree and used it as a bridge through the fire to keep him and Nessie from getting burnt.
"We gotta jump now."-Seth said as he watched Sam disappear. With a step back, they all leapt much like Sam had. Rosalie scrambled away from them, but the pack paid her no mind. She isn't their concern, Sam and Renesme are. They followed on the fallen tree after him, careful as they went. It was too narrow for a vampire to safely make it through but the burns the wolves received healed immediately. Vampires wouldn't be so lucky.
Even though the pack had phased back, Leah and Jacob already knew where they were going, still following their trail. When they reached the cliff the Cullens were still there trying to figure out how to save Rosalie with the fires closing in on her. Bella was out of her mind and was sobbing with no tears when she saw her daughter disappear with Sam.
"Where's Rose?"-Emmett asked urgently. Jasper pointed solemnly. Emmett looked over the cliff and without caring, propelled himself over and to his grieving wife. Jacob and Leah already knew she was down there and that Sam went over his makeshift bridge just before the wolves phased.
Jacob looked at how intense the fire was and at how the fallen tree was starting to get consumed.
"Leah stay here."-he was ordering her but was interrupted.
"This is your fault."-Bella screeched in vampire pitch, whooshing at him. He caught her by the wrist and slammed her on the ground. She was trying to get to him to sink her fangs into any part of his body she could reach. He deserved to die. Jasper and Alice snatched her back while Esme stood in front blocking her. Jacob was furious.
"This is my fault? This is both of our faults Bella. And Sam's. Most of it is yours. You had to have Edward. You had to have sex with a leech. You had to keep a creature that was killing you from the inside out. You had to be a vampire. You and your daughter always told me to stay like a good little dog. She doesn't know any better but you do. Even when you don't mean to be you're destructive you are. I screwed over the pack by getting us all involved with you and Edward and telling our tribal secrets, but you screwed over everyone else. You and Edward. You all have gotten comfortable. Way too comfortable. Your family acts as if we're guard dogs instead of mortal enemies!"-Jacob growled as he moved around Esme to get right in Bella's face, gripping her by her neck. Her eyes widened in fear.
Although Leah had a way about her, she was right when she would scream at Jacob about this being all his and Bella's fault. Edward's too and even Carlisle since he put Bella's decision to a vote instead of saying no. Jacob was just accepting fate and his responsibility in everything leading up to Bella's pregnancy when he up and imprinted on the Lochness. He was finally going to tell them to leave and try to get his and the pack's lives back to normal but now he couldn't because of Bella's daughter. Bella got everything she wanted and now she's apart of the very family that triggered everyone phasing in the first place, Edward got his family and their daughter wants for nothing. There would be no imprint if it wasn't for her, for them. Their lives would be normal.
It had only been two hours since the pack noticed Leah missing but it's been a lot of wounds and unaddressed issues finally being laid on the line and after today everyone knew nothing would ever be the same. One way or the other.
Bella crumpled to the ground, looking much like her old self and Jacob released her. Her hair was around her face and her shoulders were shaking as if she could cry. She rubbed her hand up and down her arm. Jacob never talked to her like that, certainly didn't grab her and she didn't know he felt this way.
"Jake, you're my best."-she tried to cry. Jacob shook his head.
"Friends don't use people the way you used me."-he mumbled.
He turned on his toes and went to the edge holding out his hand.
"Leah."-he called without looking back. He thought better of leaving her up here with leeches. He would feel much better if she was with him where he could see her and protect her if need be. She quickly walked over to him and he pulled her into him, hugging her tightly. As Jacob jumped them over the cliff, she watched the Cullens disappear and knew it was for good.
Jacob landed stealthily, barely making a noise as oppose to the other wolves. He set Leah on her feet and with barely a spared look at Rosalie and Emmett they took off after the pack. There was almost no path left around the fallen tree and the flames were closing in on the small meadow.
"Get behind me."-Jacob ordered Leah. She did as instructed and Jacob got them over the fallen tree and onto the path ahead. He took all of the burns with his hulking figure blocking her.
Emmett grabbed Rosalie and she tried to cry but couldn't. All they could do was hug each other as they watched in horror as the flames closed in on them.
The pack didn't allow Sam to get very far so they caught up easily. Jacob ran forward when he saw Nessie in Sam's arms.
Everybody knew that at this moment Sam wasn't in his right mind. It had been about a year and a half in the making. The pressure, stress and loneliness of phasing and taking care of the largest pack in history when he wasn't even alpha, to imprinting. All of it finally made him snap at the realization that Jacob Black, the true alpha, had probably broken his imprint without even knowing or trying. Or at the least shifted it so that he now had a choice, a say in his life.
He loved Leah so much that not being with her caused him to maim Emily and paralyze Chief Billy. Everything was taken away from him but all he wanted was a choice, just a choice in who he loved and loved him back.
The packs were standing begging him to not hurt Jacob's imprint because it would kill him. Leah noticed only Jacob's pack was moving.
"Why don't you go and grab her?"-Leah exclaimed as she entered the area.
"He commanded us to stay back!"-Paul snapped.
"Sam give her to me."-Jacob asked fanning himself from the heat licking around them. The wolves were drenched in sweat. They were still surrounded by fire but there was a path that led away. The wolves could make it but Nessie being a vampire and human ensured she wouldn't. They didn't know how to get her out safely.
Leah tried to maneuver around Sam as he and Jacob argued. For the sake of Jacob she wanted to snatch the selfish leech and get her to safety. She was as close to the flames as possible to stay out of their direct eyeline but far enough away so she wouldn't get burned too badly.
"You said we'd never find out Jacob."-Sam taunted. The flames licking around them were loud and added to the gravity of the confrontation.
"And we're still not. Let her go."-Jacob growled, glancing at her.
"Sam come on!"-Embry begged as he took a step forward. At that, Sam jerked Nessie towards a flame. She screamed.
"Stay back!"-Jacob alpha ordered and the pack felt it. Leah was frozen in her spot just to the side of Sam thanks to the command.
"I'm warning you."-Jacob growled. He wanted to phase but he couldn't; he needed to be able to speak to Sam.
"So, you think you'd pick your imprint huh?"-Sam asked. Jacob remained silent. He knew Sam would try to contradict him or call him a liar no matter what. He wasn't asking because he wanted to know. Sam already made up his mind.
What Jacob didn't realize as he was intently watching Sam, is that Leah was coming up and had gotten frozen right within Sam's reach. They all turned their heads when they saw a helicopter drop water down in an area not too far from where they were. It was when they turned back did Sam realized Leah was right there.
"Let's find out once and for all."-he said before grabbing her.
"Sam! What are you doing?"-she screamed. She couldn't move to fight because she was still stuck by the command unbeknownst to Jacob.
"Sam!"
"Oh God no!"
"Let her go!"
"Jacob do something!"-the wolves shouted. Seth was hysterical but could do nothing and Sam's pack was under a command due to Sam. No one could help. Jacob had to end this. It was always going to have to be Jacob no matter if it was to end the division, make the Cullens leave, recombine the packs or rescue Renesme. His heart raced so hard he thought it'd beat through his chest and fall to the ground. He started growling and shaking but refused to phase. He needed to talk.
"What are you going to do Sam?"-Jacob growled taking a step forward. Sam jerked both ladies towards the fire. First Leah to his left then Nessie to his right. Jacob jerked left then right wanting to reach out and snatch both of them. Sam smiled.
"If you kill Nessie, I kill Emily."-Jacob snarled. He wouldn't kill her but he knew Sam didn't know that. His imprint wouldn't let him care even if he did.
Sam faltered.
"You touch one hair on her head and I'll"-Sam frowned as he began to shake.
"And you'll what? After you kill Nessie I'll kill you and you won't be there to save her when I kill her."-Jacob taunted. He was getting to Sam.
He saw the conflict in his eyes. Jacob looked between Nessie to Leah and back again. There was no way for him to get them both if Sam got the opportunity to harm them. If he went for Leah Sam would toss Nessie but if he went for Nessie would Sam really toss Leah? If he lunged for Sam he'd toss both of them in the fire. Nessie would die and Leah would get badly burnt but if she's in the fire long enough she could die as well. The heat on the wind had killed seven fire fighters already. Not the actual fire but the heat and standing here isn't a picnic for them either. So God only know how long Leah would last in this fire. This wildfire was intense. Sam was desperate and it's never good when someone desperate holds all the cards.
Sam was hesitant now so Jacob continued.
"I know you couldn't care less about Nessie but what about her? You'll never forgive yourself if you hurt Leah. Lee Lee of all people. Look at her Sam!"-Jacob pointed at her. Leah was helpless and was crying tears of frustration from not being able to move, sadness from seeing someone she once loved lose his mind and dangle her like bait and in fear because there was no telling if Sam was bluffing and if he wasn't, who would Jacob save. She didn't want Jacob to watch his imprint die but she herself didn't want to chance being in the fire either. Even if she lived she'd be in excruciating pain. No matter what happens someone is going to lose. Sam lost already.
Sam looked down at Leah with sadness.
"You know. That day I broke up with you I was so angry and upset with having you snatched away from me with just a look, just one conversation, that I started to feel the imprint weaken."-Sam said remorsefully and Jacob's eyes widened as did the other wolves.
"Sam."-Leah cried. She didn't want to hear this; she couldn't take it at the moment. She was too overwhelmed.
"That night in the room I actually felt some cables snap with how angry I was. The angrier I got the more they snapped. It hurt but they snapped. But there are so many cables holding us to our imprints Leah. I honed in on my anger trying to break the imprint but I ended up breaking Emily and Billy. It was all so fast."-he was crying now and everyone listened to him. He'd kept this part of that night to himself hidden in a vault in the back of his mind. None of them knew this.
"Why didn't you say anything?"-Jacob asked, crying at the memory of his father laying in the bed weak and paralyzed due to Sam. This was huge and Sam could've said something.
Sam laughed bitterly.
"You can't break an imprint don't even try."-he mocked. "Do you know how many times the council told me that? Emily told me that the night I hurt her. It's written in the book of legends. You can't break an imprint so don't even try. You'll never understand."-his voice broke.
"The hell I wouldn't!"-Jacob growled angrily.
"I'm always the first one Jacob. The guinea pig and test dummy. I had no idea what was happening and no one else would've known either! You can't break an imprint."-he spat bitterly. Jacob remained quiet because Sam was right.
"You could've said something. You could've tried."-Leah cried, looking him in the eyes. She knows all about being the first and not getting any answers. His face softened at her; funny thing is Leah is the only person he ever tried to show about his cables snapping but she refused to listen or watch his memories, believing he was just trying to rub the imprint in her face. If she'd known.
He turned back to Jacob.
"After I hurt them and then hurt Leah I stopped trying. I couldn't break it and the only time I came close I almost killed Billy, Emily and my father. But you?"-Sam laughed humorlessly as he shook his head. "You literally aren't even trying Jacob and you still broke your imprint."-he chuckled in amazement. Jacob shook his head. Nessie looked at Jacob willing him to tell her Sam was lying. Jacob was hers, she owned him. She was his imprint and nothing could change that. Her parents told her that repeatedly.
"I didn't break my imprint."-Jacob shouted as another chopper dropped water.
"You did."-Sam said shaking his head in denial.
"Then why am I here fighting for her life?"-Jacob shouted with a few tears rolling down his cheeks.
"You've been stronger, more willed and angrier in the last two hours than you've been since you phased. You were stronger in your anger than I was which is how you broke your imprint's plea and came over the treaty line. I felt it Jacob. Those cables broke before mending back when I gave up. I had a small window but it's been hours Jacob. Your cables clearly haven't mended and the rest are almost broken."-Jacob went to speak but Sam cut him off before he could deny it. "I know it Jacob don't tell me otherwise! I just need to know. I just need to know if I went through all of that for nothing. Could I have actually broken my imprint? Can any of us or is it just you?"-he cried pathetically, pleadingly.
The other wolves wanted to know too. If they were imprinted the thought of having a choice scared them but gave them hope. If they weren't, they wanted to know if it happened would they have a choice or be doomed like Sam.
"I'm going to give you one more chance Sam."-Jacob tried, stepping forward. He couldn't give Sam whatever answer he was looking for. This had to end now.
"Do you love her."-Sam asked abruptly.
"Of course."-Jacob hissed. Sam shook his head.
"I meant Leah?"-he questioned. Everyone gasped and looked between the three.
"What?"-Jacob breathed, eyes wide, stopping in his tracks. Why would Sam ask him that?
"You heard me. You wouldn't've run across the treaty line for the others in your pack and you wouldn't be as angry. My anger was because I loved Leah and I lost her and you thought you lost her too. Answer the question. Do you love Leah?"-Sam demanded, tightening his grip on the two damsels.
"Jacob don-"
"No it's ok Leah."-Jacob said stepping forward again. Sam didn't move.
"I love her."-Jacob nodded. Everyone gasped again, but Sam shook his head.
"No, are you in love with Leah?"-he growled.
Leah and Jacob had bonded these last five months and standing here they realized that somewhere in there the lines have accidentally become blurred. Leah's heart pounded in suspense at the fact Jacob was hesitating and might say yes but part of her didn't want him to. They were just friends, she liked that they were and didn't want to lose him. Jacob went to say no but it didn't seem true. It wasn't. He thought about saying yes but that didn't seem true either. It wasn't. As a matter in fact a yes is impossible because the spirits gave him Nessie. Sam is right he wouldn't have reacted this way if it was anyone else in his pack. The only ones he'd react this way for are his imprint, Bella, his father and sisters, but here he was doing it for Leah.
He didn't know how to answer and that shocked him.
Sam nodded.
"Mhmm."-he hummed satisfied.
"I'm still imprinted."-Jacob said slowly as he turned his eyes to Nessie. Was he affirming it or trying to convince himself he didn't know. Looking at Nessie he saw shackles, sadness and death but looking to Leah he saw freedom, happiness and life. One was ordained and the other was a choice. Both were unique but only one was original one of a kind. He was created to hate one but shared a kinship bond with the other.
"Prove it."-Sam challenged and stood up straight.
"Sam no!"-Jacob shouted seeing the look in Sam's eyes and the shift in his stance. He moved forward but was too late.
"I'll save you Leah."-Sam whispered for just her and Nessie to hear. Nessie panicked and Leah's eye's widened.
In a blink, Sam tossed Leah deep into the fire to his left. She screamed out with the flames licking away, engulfing her. The flames were too much so she couldn't find her way out as she burned. Jacob, Seth and the pack screamed in disbelief. They were in agony and could do nothing. Jacob ran to get Leah.
"Don't forget you imprint."-Sam spat and threw Nessie into the fire to his right. Her screams were more like those of a vampire than human as they ripped through the air. Jacob changed direction and ran to get her but stopped. He went from one side to the next not knowing who to save. Sam watched him for a moment unblinking. When it looked like Jacob was going to get Nessie Sam rushed to go into the fire to save Leah, but Jacob had phased and leapt into the fire over him.
Sam was knocked back by the force of Jacob phasing. His chest was sliced open but he didn't care. He grabbed at his chest to keep his organs at bay to give his body time to heal. He watched with sad eyes as Jacob disappeared into the fire affirming his suspicions. He looked up at the mortified pack and remembered his command.
"Get her."-he ordered, nodding his head to the right.
Jared, Paul, Brady and Collin went into the flames to get Nessie, staying in a single file line to ensure they'd find their way back out. Seth was sobbing as Jacob's pack was still glued there due to Jacob's accidental command. Sam tried to order them to help Jacob but they weren't apart of his pack. Jacob was taking too long so Sam phased and ran in after him. Jacob was right there but was too disoriented to find the way out. He was gritting his teeth as the flames burned him alive.
"Jacob!"-Sam shouted in his head before howling over the flames and choppers dropping water. Jacob followed his call and burst through the flames.
"Release your pack!"-Sam exclaimed after phasing back, running out of the flames and Jacob wheezed that the command was lifted, collapsing. They ran over to the pair.
Just then Sam's pack came out with Nessie. Her screams had died down much like Leah's had before they each went still in the flames. But from the moment Jacob burst through the fire Leah's body slowly began to heal immediately whereas Nessie's was mostly charred to dust from her being a vampire while the rest was clinging to life due to being a human. Nessie was charred where her body remained.
The wolves who rescued Nessie were already halfway healed but they had been burnt badly as well. Sam was almost completely healed since he was in the shortest amount of time. Leah's entire body clearly suffered from third degree burns. She was in there longer than anyone after all. Her breathing was labored and she was wheezing due to her lungs being singed and her she was blind due to her corneas being melted. Her hair, like Nessie and the wolves, was burnt off with only a few stands sticking off. Jacob had third degree burns as well but he was way better off than Leah. He cried over her body before he too passed out much like Leah and Nessie had.
The packs carried all of the injured out of and away from the fire that was destroying everything in its wake, Sam carrying Jacob after the packs begged him to get up and out of the area. He was going to sit there and let the flames consume him until they mentioned Emily. When they made it to the other side they didn't realize how close they were to the firefighters.
"Hey!"-one shouted pointing in their direction when he spotted movement.
"What is it?"-another asked as they all followed his finger.
"There's people and some of them look burned!"-he explained.
"Shit."-Paul hissed and looked around to find a different way. "This way!"-he yelled to the packs and led the way towards an expanse of the forest that wasn't on fire and could hopefully lead them back to Washington.
"Hey wait!"-the firefighter called running towards them.
"What is going on? Call the chief!"-another exclaimed.
"You can't go in there the winds could change!"-another called after them. They chased after the pack but were quickly left behind.
L+L=L+L=L+L=L+L+L+L
Sunlight made him groan and turn his head to escape its unrelenting glow.
"About time you got up."-Embry smiled as Jacob opened his eyes. He sat up trying to get his eyes to focus then looked around the room trying to figure out where he was until that smell hit him.
"Where am I?"-he gagged. The scent assaulted him.
"In an old cabin in Nevada."-Quil said nervously. The rest of the wolves looked around at each other. Sam's pack has been keeping watch over the cabin along with Jacob's. He stiffened.
"What?"-he breathed confused, sitting up slowly.
"We had to get out of California and Washington and lay low for a while. We needed to make sure those firefighters didn't find us."-Jared explained.
"Yeah they sent out a search party for us and on the national news they were talking in amazement about a group of people, injured in the woods who ran deeper in when firefighters tried to help them but never came out, so we had to come here. It's an old cabin Carlisle gifted to Edward and Bella as a wedding gift." Embry finished. Jacob frowned.
"They're not here. Bella and Edward are gone."-Collin assured him.
"For good."-Paul nodded with his arms crossed as he leaned on the window. Jacob looked at them confused.
"They're…"-he asked letting the questions ask themselves.
"Bella left. She actually apologized for everything and then promised to never come back. She asked us to look out for Charlie and make her death a peaceful one for him and told us to tell you that she'll always love you and she's sorry for everything and please forgive her."-Embry said as he plopped next to Jacob in a chair. Jacob swallowed, teary eyed and saddened by the loss of his friend but knew it was a long time coming. He didn't want to see her go but he didn't want her to stay either.
"And Edward?"-he growled. They got quiet before Jared stepped forward.
"Edward wet to something called the Vultori, vampire royal council or something like that, and asked them to kill him. Vampires can't kill themselves you know. They thought he was too valuable and wanted him to join them so they refused. Edward intentionally broke some vampire rule about exposing themselves to humans. So they killed him."-he explained.
"Did they?"-Jacob asked bewildered.
"Yup."-Paul said popping the p. He really couldn't care less and thinks the world is better off without him.
"Why would Edward do that? And where's Nessie?"-Jacob asked completely confused as to why he would kill himself and leave his wife and daughter alone in the world especially since Bella was still kind of a newborn. Edward loved them more than life itself.
They all got quiet and looked away. Thankfully Carlisle came in.
"Good you're awake."-he smiled. Sam's pack wasn't used to being around vampires without killing them. They growled every time he made an appearance.
"Carlisle."-Jacob nodded, confused. He couldn't believe he was still helping them after everything that happened. None of them would admit it, sans Seth, but Carlisle was actually a vampire that deserved to live.
"You're all fine. Not a scratch or burn patch on you. You'll probably be sore and a little weak for maybe a day or two. Other than that you're all good to go. It's remarkable you wolves."-he smiled before bowing out of the room.
Jacob flexed each part of his body checking it out then looked over his nude frame.
"How long was I out?"-he groaned as he stretched.
"Twenty-two days."-Embry answered and Jacob's eyes widen. Embry nodded. "Sam's pack healed pretty quickly. They were in the fire for about four minutes and healed in a few days, but you guys were in longer and got burnt pretty badly."-he explained.
"Leah!"-Jacob suddenly gasped, remembering her. He jumped out of the bed. "Where is she where's Leah? Is she alive? Is she okay?"-he panicked. Brady handed him a robe.
"She's downstairs in the-"Brady was interrupted as Jacob bolted out of the room, butt naked. "She in the back room!"-he called after him.
Jacob bounded down the stairs and sniffed Leah out in the back room. Quil and Embry Followed after him while the others jumped out the window to check the parameter. They wanted to make sure there was no retaliating from the remaining Cullens regardless of what they've said.
When he reached the room he ripped the door off of its henges.
"Leah!"-he breathed when he saw her lying in the bed. He saw some wires sticking into her and raced over to her and listened for her heartbeat. He sighed a little relieved when he heard it. He frowned when he saw the bandages over her head and eyes.
"She was in the fire longer than everyone. She got burnt really badly so it's taking a little longer for her."-Seth explained from his seat next to Leah's bed. He looked exhausted.
"She's out of the woods?"-Jacob asked him as he slid in the bed next to her. Seth started to tell him he probably shouldn't do that but didn't even bother. Jacob wouldn't listen to him.
"Yeah. Carlisle said her vision will come back too."-Seth smiled. Jacob sighed relieved.
"Where are our parents?"-Jacob asked, noticing neither sets of parents was around which was weird.
"We told them to stay on the rez and we'd video with them multiple times a day so they can check in on you guys."-Embry said coming into the room.
"Yeah, we don't need them around with possible vengeful leeches out for us. After everything we really weren't sure how the Cullens would react or if they'd try to get payback. We didn't want to risk it."-Quil said leaning against the frame where the door was hanging from its henges.
"That makes sense."-Jacob mumbled as he watched Leah breathe.
"So…"-Seth said, looking pointedly from Jacob to his sister in his arms. Jacob sighed.
"I don't know. I know Sam-Sam! Where is Sam?"-Jacob growled as he gently slid out of the bed. Leah twitched and he looked at her and lowered his voice. "Where is Sam? Why is his pack here but not him?"-he growled, shaking a little. Embry put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. "I'm alright."-Jacob assured him, taking deep breaths. Seth handed Embry a robe and he draped it on Jacob's shoulders, tying it up for him.
They all got quiet.
"You have no idea what's changed in only twenty-two days."-Quil sighed. Jacob looked around waiting for an answer just when Sam's pack came in. Everything was safe outside.
"Is she up yet?"-Jared asked as he looked over at the door hanging on for dear life.
"No but she can come out of her induced coma in about three days judging by her progress."-Carlisle said, having floated into the room. He checked her vitals and whatever else doctors need to do in these situations.
"Coma?"-Jacob exclaimed with his mouth lying slack.
"It was either coma or she felt everything as she's healing. Same with you."-Carilsle explained.
"I was in a coma?"-he gaped.
"Yes. But, you're fine now and in a few days Leah will be too."-Calisle smiled.
"So, we can take them home?"-Seth asked with hope in his voice.
"Well Jake can go home now if he wanted but give Leah three more days and she can finish her recovery there."-Carlisle nodded and left just as quickly as he came. The remaining Cullens, Jasper Alice and Esme are waiting for the pack to heal and return home with Carlisle before they leave. They're keeping watch over La Push while the pack is gone. As soon as Leah is ok the Cullens will burn the treaty, permanently severing it and leave Forks for good. Once they leave they'll leave the wolves their contact information for if ever they needed anything. Other than that, their time in Washington has come to an end.
"Thank God."-Paul sighed. He's ready to get out of the vampire stained cabin and back home. They all are.
"So about Sam?"-Jacob said looking at Sam's pack as he turned back around. "I want to know everything I've missed."-he huffed with his arms crossed.
"The council ordered Sam under arrest." Jacob's eyebrows shot up into his head. Jared nodded. "When they evaluated him he was clearly not in his right mind. He really did snap. He's serving a five-year sentence in an asylum as ordered by the council. Anything longer they fear will make things worse or kill him. They were going to make it twenty but they figured under the circumstances and Sue and Harry your folks forgiving him, still pissed though, that five was enough. If it isn't they'll keep extending it by five years until it is. He gets therapy everyday and all the treatment he needs. They want you to command him not to phase or anything like that once you're able, but he's so defeated and remorseful that we know it won't be a problem. He's catatonic. They also want you to command him to never phase again as part of his sentencing. He's no longer allowed to be a wolf."-Jared said quietly. Jacob swallowed and they sat in silence thinking of Sam and being in his shoes. There were mixed feelings on the matter.
"Carlisle helped the council find the right place for him and checks in on him for us and with his influence, Emily is allowed to visit every day so Sam doesn't die."-Paul added. Surprisingly Paul was one of the wolves who believes Sam got off too easily and doesn't care about Sam's circumstances. He never would've done something like that if he was in Sam's shoes.
"Wow."-Jacob sighed as he sat down on the ledge under the window. He shook his head sadly while going through every stage of grief over and over in rapid time.
Despite everything he actually felt bad for Sam. He knew he didn't mean to be destructive and knew he was having a mental breakdown. Sam had to go through everything first and alone. He was there for all the other wolves when they phased and took on the duties Jacob was supposed to take on. He never complained or shirked on his duties and no one ever offered any help to ease his load. He never realized just how burdened Sam was, too caught up in Bella. Sam always hid just how burdened he felt and that's part of the reason he snapped.
"You mean Emily is still with him?"-Jacob asked realizing what Paul said.
"I mean yeah. Does she really have a right to be mad when you think about it? And be honest she's damaged goods who would want her? She stood by him after what he did to her so we can't be too surprised. Either way she forgives him and she's standing by him. She loves him."-Quil shrugged.
"You said a lot has changed?"-Jacob asked wearily. After hearing of Sam's fate, he can't imagine what else happened.
"Well then there's imprinting."-Collin mumbled. Jacob's heart raced.
"Nessie."-Jacob breathed. He had forgotten all about her until this very moment. His heart began to beat heavily in his chest. His breath came in short pants. He hadn't seen her or smelled her and they didn't mention her. Seth got up and put his hand on Jacob's shoulder with a solemn face. Jacobs swallowed.
"She's gone."-Seth said and you could hear a pin drop. They all bristled waiting for his reaction. Jacob's ears began to ring.
"What do you mean."-he asked in a tight voice. He understood he just hoped Seth would say something else.
"She was half human half vampire. No human can survive being in a fire that hot for that long and no vampire can survive fire period. She died almost right after they got her out of the fire. I'm so sorry Jake."-Seth said quietly. The packs, pack rather now that Sam is gone, waited with bated breath. He opened and closed his mouth several times before tears rolled down his cheeks.
"I-what…"-he didn't even know where to begin.
"They tried to wait for you. They laid her to rest five days later. That's why Bella left on her own and Edward had the Vultori kill him. They just couldn't take it."-Embry explained. Jacob just couldn't wrap his mind around the fact his Nessie, his imprint was gone.
His legs felt weighted as he got up and mindlessly moved around the room. The pack looked at him sadly as he plopped down on the bed. Leah kind of rolled when he knocked into her and he turned his attention to her. He sat up in the bed and pulled her to lay on his chest and kissed her bandaged head. He breathed her in to calm down since it worked twenty-two days ago when he went looking for her.
The pack looked between each other. They didn't know how Jacob felt but the fact that he turned his attention back to Leah just when he looked on the verge of sobbing over Nessie kind of gave them the answer they all figured.
"There's something you should know about imprinting."-Brady decided to speak up. Jacob looked up at him over Leah's head as he hugged her. She continued to lie there unmoving but he could hear her heart form the monitor and with his wolf hearing.
"Do I wanna know?"-he mumbled.
"Well…"-Seth started with a smile and looked to Embry. He clapped his hands and pushed off the wall.
"You've changed the course of imprinting my friend."-Embry started and Jacob sat up.
"How?"-he asked skeptically.
"It turns out that raw, unfiltered anger and hatred just negative emotions against your imprint, pulls the cables of the imprint. We never really knew that or thought of it until twenty-two days ago."-he said. Jacob laid Leah back down on the bed and stood up.
"What are you saying?"-he asked with wide eyes.
"It means a wolf can break his imprint."-Jared smiled. Jacob gaped at them.
"Wait so it's true? Sam was…right?"-Jacob breathed astonished. Brady snickered at his face.
"As crazy as it sounds yes. Sam was right."-Embry nodded.
"Wait so…"-Jacob said as he pointed his finger around the room. Embry nodded. Jared leaned back.
"I took some time to think about if I wanted to stay with Kim. I mean I'm happy and I love her but if I wasn't imprinted would I even like her? I had to make a decision. I decided to break it but remembering how devastated Kim was when I told her, I stopped and decided to keep it. While attempting to break it I did have a moment of clarity, a moment to just be me before I phased. Thinking of her I couldn't do it, but the most important thing is that I didn't want to. I'm imprinted and I'm happy and I'm happy it's my choice."-Jared smiled.
"Paul you broke it right?"-Jacob asked with pleading eyes, turning to look at him. Paul smirked.
"I was a lady's man before Rachel and I fully intended to be a lady's man again. I stormed into your house and told her I was breaking it and we got into an argument. I started to feel the pull of the cables and got excited."-he started and Jacob smiled. "But, while we were arguing and I was backing away shaking, I had the same moment and feelings Jared did. As long as I know she's attractive and I actually love her and have a choice I'm pretty okwith it. More importantly now I know I'm with a woman who genuinely wants to be with me and isn't doing it because she feels obligated…she's afraid of me. She had a moment of clarity just like I did and we're happy together without all the mumbo jumbo so we stayed imprinted."-Paul shrugged. Jacob huffed.
"Great or whatever."-Jacob mumbled looking away angrily.
"Plus I knew it'd piss you and Billy off."-Paul added as he slapped Jacob on the back. Jacob growled at him.
"So all of you decided to keep the imprint."-Jacob breathed.
"All but one."-Quil smiled and Jacob's jaw slacked.
"Quil!"-he exclaimed as he pointed at him.
"Yup. It was harder for me because she's a kid and I had to get irate on her. But, there was no way in the world I was going to stay imprinted on a small child. It wasn't fair for me to have to stay around and wait for a little girl to grow up and wait for her to decided what to do with my life and it wasn't fair for her to have her life decided for her before she even learns her ABCs. I'm a free man. I'm free!"-Quil smiled teary eyed. It was a very emotion moment, but he really had his freedom and Claire had hers. He has every intention to continue look out for her because she will always have a special place in his heart.
"So if Sam hadn't gone through it first-"-Jacob started.
"We probably never would've known and wouldn't be able to write it in the book of legends for future wolves."-Quil finished.
"Guinea pig."-Jacob mumbled, remembering Sam's words.
"There is a catch though."-Seth interrupted. Jacob looked at him wearily. "You only get one shot to break the imprint. Once the cables start breaking you have to keep going, you have to break it. Once you stop you have a very small window to finish the break or else the cables realign and you're stuck with the imprint forever. That's what happened with Jared, but it worked out since he decided to keep it anyway. Paul taught us this taught us this bit of info when he tried to break the imprint again when Rachel made him mad but he couldn't."-he explained.
"That's why Sam couldn't break the imprint after he hurt Emily. He just gave up and gave in. The imprint realigned and that was it. The accident and his guilt prevented him from gaining his freedom."-Jared said sadly.
Jacob plopped back down on the bed. He felt like he was getting a workout with how many times he was getting up sitting down and pacing. He shook his head.
"My God."-he whispered. Paul stood from the dresser he was sitting on.
"I gotta ask man."-Jacob looked up at him while he walked over. "Do you feel your imprint is…dead?"-he asked hesitantly. Jacob looked like he was trying to find words to say. "Your imprint broke Jake."-Paul said cautiously.
"No it didn't. I mean I..I didn't try. I mean…"-he stuttered.
"You don't have to try look at Sam. Your cables started to break the moment I told you Leah went over the border. You broke Nessie's plea to stay and growled at her menacingly. You left her unprotected and…"-Seth started but didn't want to finish.
"You left her in the fire to save Leah."-Embry finished for him. The room waited as Jacob looked as if he was in distress. He stood up only to sit back down. He started rubbing his hand on his chest over his heart. He cried a little before taking deep breaths.
"I don't think I feel agony or anything other than sadness for a friend."-he said quietly, his brow furrowed. There was no ache in his chest or weight on him or cables tying him down. He'd only known her three months; he cared about her and was sad about her passing but...that's it.
"You're not in pain?"-Embry asked.
"No. Nothing anyone else wouldn't feel after losing a close friend. I…I broke the imprint."-he said and looked up at the room surprised. Saying it out loud made it real. He broke his imprint. He was no longer imprinted and was free from his cables and wouldn't die because his imprint was killed.
Leah's monitor beeped loudly once before going back to normal. He turned back to her and looked down at her for a goof five minutes before he sat in the bed and pulled her back to his chest and pressed his nose to her neck, taking calming breaths. This news would hurt Leah most of all but he'd be there for her no matter how many times she'll tell him to go away.
"You broke the imprint for Leah."-Seth stated instead of asked. At this point that's what it all boils down to. Jacob's imprint broke because he had to save Leah and he had to save Leah because he cared about her. Yet again she's proving to be a one of a kind. No other woman has ever caused an imprinted wolf to break it.
He nodded not even bothering to deny it.
"I guess so."-he said as he looked down at her. He looked lost and confused. Seth put a hand on his shoulder.
"You'll figure things out just give it some time and then take things slow with her. She'll need you Jake. You tell her everything when she wakes up and then just take things slowly…for once."-Seth smiled encouragingly. Jacob nodded.
He looked down at Leah then around the room at his wolf brothers.
"Three days and we go home. We all go home and move forward out of the fire and into the future."-Jacob said to his pack and they nodded and looked to their one and only alpha wondering what his leadership hold for their futures.
He could feel the linking of the packs firmly coming together into one, binding them. The power as Ephraim's heir surged through him like lightening. The power of the alpha was firmly on him. He was finally taking his birth right like he should've done once he found his footing as a wolf and certainly before he ran off to be an actual alpha to protect Bella and her leech instead of his people like he was created to do.
The wolves had more power and freedom than they thought before and it was all because of Sam. His methods were deplorable of course, but as always Sam had to be the sacrifice to usher in the new era for the wolves. A pack that wasn't his but was thrust upon him. To make the mistakes so they didn't have to and achieve the successes so they could reap the rewards. Jacob was still grieved and pissed off, God knows he was pissed, but eventually he would forgive Sam, and Bella, and pay him a visit to let him know just that. To outsiders what Sam did was unforgivable, but the pack sees it from his point of view and understands even if they don't agree.
Sam was there for Jacob throughout his short wolf life and so Jacob would be there for him and occasionally when needed even his imprint. Sam might have taken his but in a weird way if it wasn't for Sam, Jacob wouldn't be free his imprint or Quil. Free to live and love whomever they wanted. He wouldn't be ready to be alpha, he wouldn't be ready to move forward and he wouldn't be ready…for Leah.
AN: Hope you like! I know some of you are probably pissed off at them forgiving Sam and him not getting a longer sentence lol. Sorry but that's the way I envisioned it ending. I have two full story ideas I want to do before diving back into SA and FOP (probably going to edit FOP entirely). I'm coming up with ideas but I'm having trouble with the meat of the stories so I'm hoping doing this will help. These two stories are crossovers one is with TWO other stories. I think I can do one of them pretty quickly but I won't start posting that until I'm almost done so I don't end up with an unfinished story again. The other story is complicated. I'm hoping this helps with my weird partial writer's block. If one shots or short stories pop into my head while writing I'll post those. Just know I'm working on the others, at least the one. Thanks for all the faves, reviews, follows, and likes they are much loved.
The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few…so I need you to read then I need you to review…or I'll send a square to cut your power. Did you know that those furry demons are responsible for most of the power outages that occur in the US?! Those little caffeine demons are so destructive. I've been at war with them ever since the crawled into an open space in my roof and clawed away. Took forever to find someone to get their dirty nest and evict them. Hated them ever since and now this! smh