Chapter Nineteen
Kate
I took Edward up on his offer of the tour of the house, and we did a quick wizz round before he ushered me to one of the overly large sofas in front of the TV. He went back to Carlisle's office to retrieve the IV stuff, giving me a moment to myself.
It was peaceful here, and I chose to ignore the fact that Edward could probably 'hear' me. I was too tired, too drained from my crying jag in Carlisle's office to censor my thoughts. My eyes were puffy and my head was feeling full of cold and I could imagine I looked a right mess.
"Urg."
I couldn't stop the sound and flopped my head back on the sofa cushion. I'd never been this emotional in years, and I could only attribute it to the whole supernatural thing I found myself in. The Pack had said as much themselves when they explained it all. The pull of the Imprint could manifest in illness without constant contact, and I vividly remembered those final few weeks before my move to the States, seeing it with new eyes. It both scared and angered me that I was affected by this thing, this Imprint, without my consent or my knowledge. I mean, I get it, I understand the basic idea behind the phenomenon, but it didn't mean I necessarily agreed with it. Even the Pack wasn't completely onboard, and given what background info they provided about it, it seems like, from my position at least, it's done as much harm to the Pack as good.
I had a suspicion they would have glossed over much more of the bad side of Imprinting if it wasn't for Paul and his big mouth. I smiled at the thought of him explaining everything he could for me yesterday, gaining a few daggers from the others when he got a little personal. Embry had later apologised for his Pack mate, and explained Paul's own history with his Imprint-cum-Wife, Rachel, had Paul and his wolf jacked up with the need to please me, and thus overshare in his compulsion to keep me happy. It seems Rachel's attitude to both Paul and the Imprint clashed spectacularly with his past, and her fighting the pull caused the mother of all meltdowns for the poor man. It made me sad to think he had no control over this at all, and yes, it seems like it was a complete man-whore before Imprinting on Rachel, but that was his choice in life. If anything I thought the Imprint hamstrung his natural personality.
"I wouldn't completely agree with your assessment of that mutt, I think the Imprint reigned in some unsavoury behaviours. But, I'm inclined to agree with your take on the compulsions of the Imprint."
I lifted my head as Edward walked back in the room with a metal tray.
"Aren't you kind of bias though?" I asked, ignoring the mutt comment, as I watched him settle the tray on the coffee table. He motioned for me to recline slightly and lifted my feet so I was stretched out on the sofa.
"Hmm, of course, especially as my own daughter is involved. However, I'm not entirely sure the Pack fully understands Imprinting." He took my hand and after rubbing an alcohol wipe over the inside of my elbow, he had the cannula in before I could blink.
"So, what's your take on it then?"
He continued to set up the drip before settling himself at the other end of the sofa to face me.
"The Pack are told by their Council that the Wolf will be anything the Imprint needs. This is true to an extent, your thoughts on Paul for example. Likewise, there's the understanding that the Imprint brings balance to the man and wolf. As soulmates both halves should balance perfectly. In practice, this hasn't been completely true, some of the Imprints haven't followed this theory."
"Which ones?" I asked. He crossed his legs, getting comfortable.
"I don't want to influence you in this." He said seriously. "You've gathered by now my family and the Pack have history together, both bad and good, and they will not take kindly to whatever I tell you."
I shifted on the seat sending him a small glare. "Please, Edward. I'm an adult, and can make my own decisions. I would prefer to do it with all available information, rather than just the cherry picked bits from one side."
He held his hands up in supplication. "Just remember that when they try and pick a proverbial fight with us."
"Start talking." I rolled my wrist to motion him to begin and he grinned a little.
"Well, without picking fault with every Imprint pairing, I will just go with the obvious ones. Claire and Quil... Yes, exactly."
I couldn't help my slightly grimace at that pairing. "How old was she?" I asked.
"Two, nearly three. Quil was sixteen. They have always maintained it was for Claire's happiness, and what I've encountered over the years, directly and through the Pack's thoughts, it has been that way. As much as it would be very easy to make the worst assumption, Quil has always been honourable."
"But now?" I got the gist from the guys that it was now only starting to get complicated.
"Indeed." Edward agreed with my thoughts. "There hasn't been a precedent for that kind of age gap in the Pack's histories, so I can understand why both Claire and Quil are confused on where to take their relationship. The Imprint doesn't wash away social constructs, so Quil is aware of what this would look like from those outside. Will he risk the social backlash by taking it further? Or will the Imprint compulsion to protect Claire override their feelings? From what I understand of Claire herself, her homelife was and is normal, so it begs the question, why the Imprint? Was it for Quil's benefit? I know that he was always the joker of the group, and he was the only one of the Pack who was excited to be a wolf. Was Claire needed to rein in his behaviour? A little extreme don't you think for someone who took to the wolf so well?"
I nodded in agreement, looking off into the blank screen of the TV. I had wondered myself. The guys were quick to defend Quil and the age gap, but it still was uncomfortable hearing it and wondering how their relationship would grow. I mean, she would be legal in a small number of years, but there's still that age and maturity gap. But back to the need for the Imprint, I couldn't see why it was there in the first place?
"Do you think it could be genetics, like the whole breeding program idea?" I framed it in the same words the guys used. There were mixed feelings there and I wondered what Edward's take on it was.
"It was actually my first thought when we came across this Pack, but given that none of the wolves have managed to procreate, it's thrown that theory into question."
I couldn't stop my thoughts and sent Sam and Emily a small apology.
"Oh, I wasn't aware. I'd pass on my congratulations, but I'm not sure it would be welcomed." Edward said. "I won't mention it to any of the family."
"Thanks. I don't think they have told anyone outside the Pack yet. It's not my place to share their news." I ran my fingers idly over a cushion. "Do you think that means something? Like, the fact it's taken them this long to get pregnant? I mean, I kinda get the impression that there would be that imperative to get the next generation of Pack going, and I could tell it was a frustration for them." I didn't add Paul's take on the matter. There are somethings you just don't want to know.
"Maybe. Honestly, even now, the Pack is coming across more oddities that question everything they know." He inclined his head deliberately at me, including me in that statement. Something I certainly couldn't argue with if I wanted to.
"What else?"
"Well, there's Renesmee for example. She is the Alpha's Imprint, or should I say first Imprint. Yet, they have a somewhat strained relationship with each other which flies against everything we were told about how Imprinting should work."
He sounded a little frustrated at that.
"So it hasn't worked out as you were expecting it to?" I prodded, a little surprised. I got the impression he wasn't happy with the pairing.
"Exactly. It took me some time to come to terms with how it should pan out, even if I didn't agree or want that for my daughter, however, it seems it's all been in vain and I feel like my family, and the Pack, are being held hostage together because of that Imprint connection."
His tone was bitter and I was surprised how much it resonated with me.
"I know what you mean. We've all been thrown into this against our will and expected to play along, but the game has changed without warning and everyone is scrambling to find their feet."
"Hmmm, exactly."
I shifted in my seat, relaxing at more of an incline as I formed my next question.
"So, there are inconsistencies with why Imprinting happens. The breeding of new wolves seems to be bust, otherwise there would be plenty of kids running around already. Then the perfect match, the balance for both sides seems to be wrong too, given Quil and Claire, and Jacob and your daughter in particular."
"Both points for Renesmee." He stated, rubbing his hand through his hair, quite aggressively. It took me a moment to figure out what he meant from that.
"Oh. You mean…?"
"Yes. We think it's because of her hybrid nature, her half-breed nature, she is infertile." He sneered the slur and I froze in my seat from the peek of predator that I saw in his features. He reined it in when he saw my face. "Sorry. I guess it's my protective father instincts rising up." He said with a wryly tilt of his lips.
"It's understandable," I replied. "And rightly so. I will try and get them to stop saying it."
"Thank you. Myself and Bella would appreciate it. It's one thing for us to be called names, quite another for your own flesh and… well, you know." He gave me a nod of thanks.
"Sure. But this goes both ways. I hear mutt mentioned quite often." I grinned at the pained expression on Edward's face.
"Maybe one step at a time?" He countered, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Sure, as long as you don't mind the leech, the tick, the bloodsucker-"
"Yes, OK, understood, you've made your point." He grinned and I laughed again.
The rest of the afternoon passed in pleasant conversation with Edward, then along with Carlisle as he returned from Seattle with what looked like an entire pharmacy of drugs and medical bits. I was afraid to ask why so much, when Edward explained.
"We're just stocking up, now that we are interacting with a human again. It was a precaution we took with Bella, and now yourself."
"OK, I'm still wondering is this is like a bad omen or something." I murmured as I warily eyed Carlisle restocking his office out of four rather large rucksacks. He chuckled as he placed the first empty bag on the bed.
"One is filled with food for you." He tapped one of the bags with his foot and Edward bent down to retrieve it. "We've kept you most of the afternoon, and I'd like you to stay for a while longer as we set you up with the new antibiotics, just to make sure you're OK with them. I think you'll be staying for dinner."
"Ah yes, time to feed the human. Best make sure I'm not the meal, right?" I joked. I almost missed the look they shot each other. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
Edward placed a guiding hand on my lower back before walking me out of the office and towards the kitchen.
"Sorry, did I do something wrong?" I asked as he helped me up onto a stool by the counter.
"No, sorry you just caught us by surprise, that's all." Edward replied as he started to unpack the rucksack.
"Right?" I leant forward a little, awaiting the explanation. Edward paused and looked passive at me for a moment, but letting out a long sigh and resume piling packets on the counter.
"Your comment. It was eerily similar to something Bella said the first time she came to this house, when she was human." He spoke as though he didn't want to tell me.
"OK, well it's not a hard joke to get to, you know. House of vamps, dinner… you'd have to be pretty humourless not to make the leap. I admit, it's not my best material, but it was low hanging fruit, I couldn't resist." I tried a little more humour, still not really sure why it was a touchy subject.
Edward, catching my thoughts seem to shake himself out of whatever mindset he was in and, with a somewhat grinding of gears, changed the subject to dinner for me. I let the awkwardness go, the afternoon had been full of heavy conversation and I needed a little mental break from it all.
In what seemed like minutes later, I was happily listening to Edward and Carlisle chat about their family, whilst I scoffed down some ragu pasta dish that Edward had pulled together from the ingredients that Carlisle had brought with him. For someone that doesn't eat, it was so, so good, and I could see he was fighting the compulsion to preen at my thoughts.
"Yes, Edward, it was amazing. You may commence the gloating." I pointed my spoon at him before digging back into the mini Ben and Jerry's for my dessert. My previous reluctances of eating in front of a predator had completely vanished at this point, and I felt completely comfortable with both the guys.
As soon as I had scrapped the cardboard container of remaining ice cream, and causing Edward's eye to twitch with my thoughts to licking it clean, I was ushered back to the couch for more medical attention. Carlisle was quick to set up the IV with further fluids and stuck me for another vein in my other arm for the antibiotics. Edward came back into the room and both settled themselves in a loose triangle around me as we continued our conversations. It was relaxing and took my mind off the mild side effects of the drugs.
"You might feel a little nauseous, it's why having something to eat before hand actually helps." Edward explained as I must have grimace my discomfort.
"It's fine, it's nothing major." I waved him off. "So, where are the other two?" I asked.
"Jasper still struggles a little with the lifestyle, we've been out of close contact with a human for some time, so he's with Bella in Seattle, running some errands for Alice, just until he's more comfortable." Carlisle added. I nodded my understanding.
"Does he… slip up… frequently?" I asked, the morbid thoughts conjuring up some imagery involving Jasper, his face morphing into the black hair vampire.
"No. The last time was when Bella was human." An uncomfortable look passed between them, and I realised that it was significant and then Edward's surprised looked to me confirmed I knew this story.
"Her birthday party, her eighteenth?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes." Edward let out a sigh of frustration. "I take it the Pack told you…?" He looked to Carlisle who was trying to stay impassive, but I noticed how his body language shifted to denote his own annoyance.
"Yes. By the sounds of it, Jasper was overwhelmed with the… blood need? Lust? Thirst? From the rest of your lot, coupled with Bella's extra's appeal to you? Seems like the poor guy was set up for failure if you ask me." I rubbed my hand down my face, still getting to grips with my insight into this world that didn't exist a few days ago, and how the fuck I was having this conversation.
"Not to offend-" They both chuckled and I rolled my eyes. "OK, I will offend, deal with it. Why, if you knew it was a problem for him did you let him into that situation in the first place? I mean, he's an empath for Christ's sake."
It was a rhetorical question in my mind, I wasn't expecting an answer, but Edward surprised me, by cutting in defensively.
"We couldn't have seen she would get a papercut, and that he would react like that." He stated, a little annoyance leaking into his tone, like he'd explained this a hundred times before.
I think my tether was at its end, the day had been weird and long, coupled with brewing stomach pains and headache from the drugs, so I called him out on it. It had been bugging me since the Pack told me the story. I assumed they hadn't got all the details since they were not there, it was just something they had learnt over the years, second hand, but Edward's reply just made me realise their distrust of the vamps, and their edginess of the situation was warranted.
"I thought Alice could see the future? Surely something, even that minor, that had such a big impact would have triggered her power?"
They shot each other a glance which I couldn't rightly decipher, before Carlisle dived in.
"Her visions are subjective-"
"Yes, so I'm told, but isn't that down to human decision changing things she sees? I mean, not that I'm an expert, just calling it as I see it, but it's just a little too weird for me, you know? I know the papercut wasn't a decision, but if Alice can track the stock market or the weather, as a better example, that's not controlled by human decisions, why couldn't she see that about to happen? It's like that butterfly effect thingy. The papercut was the butterfly in this-"
I didn't finish my sentence as a mixed wave of strong emotion blindsided me.
"Oh, fuck! Ow, ow, ow!" I grabbed my head as the growing pounding there suddenly spiked and I pinched my eyes shut against the pain.
"Kate, what's wrong?" I felt Carlisle take my hands to pry them from my head. "What's hurting?"
"Head. Jesus fucking Christ!" I let out a long groan. Waves of anger, frustration and fear washed over me, bleeding from one to the next, twisting over each other, I couldn't keep up with it and, ignoring the pull of my, thankfully, still slightly numb stitches, I turned into the back of the sofa to press my face into the darkened material. I felt further cool hands against my legs and realised that I was kicking out in an attempt to escape the pain.
"Breathe through it, Carlisle is going to get you something." Edward whispered quietly by my ear. I guess he could 'hear' what was going on and I sent him a thanks for the lowered tone.
"Here." I guess Carlisle was back as there was a slight tug as they pulled one of my arms away from my hair, and soon a new cold feeling moved up my arm as he injected something into the cannula already in place.
There was a blessed relief from the pounding in my head, but the emotions were still there, churning away, and I couldn't get a handle on them.
"Are you comfortable, Kate?" The Doc asked.
"Do I look it?" I almost snarled, the anger I felt making itself known outwards. I cringed at myself. "Sorry."
"Kate, who did you text earlier, when we suggested you let the Pack know your whereabouts?"
I peeled my other hand down so I could see them both. The pain receded enough that the lights were not blinding me so much. I didn't miss the tension they were both showing.
"Why?" I asked. This time, the fear was forefront and exaggerated, making my heart beat a frenetic tattoo in my chest.
"We think the Pack are looking for you." Edward replied.
I blinked at him.
"Sorry? I don't understand?"
"Did they explain about the Imprint connection? That you would feel each other?" Carlisle asked. He looked at Edward who rose from his seat and vanished and returned quicker than I could process. It made me jump in my heightened state.
"Your cell. It's off." He handed it to me. "I think you need to let them know you are OK." He looked concerned and moved to the large glass windows at the back of the room.
With trembling hands, I turned the device on. As it went through it's boot up, I looked to Carlisle.
"They mentioned it, but I don't understand?" The emotions were still strong and I couldn't think past them to remember what they had told me. My phone then beeped at me, once, twice, then a trill of voicemail notifications lit up the screen before I could access the text app.
"They are here." Edward stated from his position and I shot up in my seat. I could feel them. The Pack, they were outside.
They both moved quickly, and before I could get my legs off the sofa and onto the floor, I was detached from the IV lines and cannulas and picked up bridal style by Edward and outside on the decking.
"Whoa, bit of noticed next time, please?" I gripped his neck tightly as my stomach caught up to the rest of me. Edward didn't answer, only stared out into the darkness of the forest in front of us.
What felt like both minutes and hours later, I caught the first movement from the shadows. A hulking beast emerged from the night, lips cocked in a low snarl I could feel vibrate in my chest, even from this distance.
"She's safe, Jacob. Carlisle had to retreat her wound, an infection had set in." He stated calmly. He lowered me to my feet and as I got my balance I caught sight of more shapes emerging. There was four of them, all as big as horses and sending the most fucking evil look at the three of us. The fear peaked again, and I'm pretty damn sure it was my own this time, and I couldn't stop the whimper that left my hanging jaw.
"Please, Jacob. You are scaring her." Carlisle spoke up, using the same tone as Edward.
Like a sudden storm hit, the air was heavy with static and the large red wolf's body collapsed into itself and reformed in the shape of Jacob Black.
He was magnificent.
He was naked. Again.
And scary as fuck.
His eyes were piercing, flickering between wolf and human as they scanned the decking, before lingering on me. I couldn't help but sink into myself slightly and I felt the sudden compulsion to bare my neck. It was like I was being hunted by an animal. I guess I was in a way, and the snarl he let out as I gently bumped back into Edwards side from my cringing only cemented that fact.
"Sam." Jacob spoke, more wolf than man, tone low and sticky with the threat of violence, and the black wolf to his right transformed into the image of Sam Uley before my eyes. He coalesced from his wolven form into a crouch and as he rose to his full height he buttoned a pair of cut off shorts on his hips before stalking forward towards the steps. He lept the half dozen or so with little effort all whilst keeping eye contact me with. I felt Edward step away from me but I was transfixed by Sam's appearance and the hardened look in his eye. It softened slightly when we made eye contact close up, but his body language was just screaming barely controlled frustration, it was then I realised those feelings from before that I could still feel were from these guys, these wolves in front of me.
"Come." His tone brokered no argument and once more I was swung up into another set of arms and he ducked us both down suddenly as he plucked up something by my feet I hadn't even noticed.
I'd barely blinked before we were back down the steps and Sam carried me to my car that was parked on the driveway by the corner of the house. I was gently placed in the back seat and my bag placed on my lap.
"Keys." He stated. Again, not a request, but a command and I fumbled with the clasp to retrieve them, handing them over. He paused as he took them, his face roaming my own, but giving nothing away, before he lent over and did my seat belt up. He gave me a small peak on the forehead as he unfolded back out of the car, before doing something with the door then closing it firmly on me.
I blinked in confusion.
"What the hell?"
I rubbed the spot he kissed, the sudden and unexpected bit of contact and affection settled my nerves a little, but did nothing for my rising confusion. I was starting to have a nice time and suddenly it's all gone tits up.
The anger and frustration flared again, and it peaked my own ire at being man handled and dumped in my car without so much as a 'by your leave'.
"Who the fuck do you think-" I unclipped my belt and reached for the door release, only finding the door wouldn't bunged.
"What?" I pulled the release again, using my shoulder to try and force it, only to bounce off it.
He'd set the child locks. He's locked me in my own fucking car!
"SAM! Fucking arsehole! Let me out!"
Jacob
"You followed her."
"Coincidence." Eddy stated. Not giving anything away.
"And you just happened to be in PA when she was?" I sneered.
"Yes. Fortunately." His passive exterior cracked slightly, a derisive tone to the words. I felt my wolves shift in agitation behind me, feeding off my own emotions that were bleeding through my Alpha link to them.
"Gentlemen, maybe we can discuss this calmly, Kate is watching."
Carlisle brought me back into myself and I struggled to bring the wolf to heel. He was chomping at the bit to take these two creatures down. It was only their connection to my Imprint, to Renesmee, that was keeping me from going completely feral on their asses.
"Are you OK, Jacob?" Edward asked, genuine concern in his voice and the flip from his usual hostilities was another bucket of cold water on the raging inferno that was my baser self. I took a deep breath, trying hard to ignore the leech stench, and picking up the honeyed tones of Kate. She had been here a number of hours so her scent had saturated the lower floor of the Cullen place and seeped out of the open doors, and even clung to their clothes. It riled my wolf and myself up knowing she had been in close, touching contact with them, but her scent itself dosed the flames slightly.
"No. Eddy. We're not OK." My lip curled up. He didn't retaliate with a choice dog barb as usual and it honestly helped me get a grip on myself. I took a breath before continuing.
"Our Imprint, our injured Imprint, has been out of contact for hours, only to find out that she's been holed up with you without any type of heads up. I thought you knew us better by now, how… intense… a new Imprint is. It would have been nice to get a fucking phone call to let me know!"
I spat out the last words in a growl, and from here I could hear Kate's heart rate kick up a gear. It was already fast and I lowered my tone before continuing.
"You will not have any further contact with her unless I allow it." I decreed. I felt Embry shift behind me and I turned it into an order. My wolf was feeling ultra possessive right now and I'll be fucked if I was having this bunch of bloodsuckers, and my own wolves, buck my command.
"Understood." The Doc respond without hesitation. My wolf bucked in my chest, annoyed that the excuses for the fight he was gunning for were being stripped away from him.
"Please take this bag for her. It contains stronger antibiotics and dressings for her wound. There is an infection that needs to be dealt with. I've included instructions on how to administer the drugs. Please get Sue to help if you are uncomfortable with setting the cannula and IV lines up."
He picked up a backpack from the decking and Sam moved forward again to claim it.
"I've also included some pain relief and sleeping aids." His tone turned steely at this point and I felt myself and the wolves around me still in response. "She is fighting an infection along with dealing with the trauma, both physical and mental from this past week. Not to mention coupled with the Imprint and her sudden introduction into this world, Jacob. She needs to rest and recuperate. I highly suggest she talks to someone in the know to help her process everything."
"Right, and I guess that someone is one of your lot?" I sneered again, unable to help the antagonistic venom spitting from my own mouth. I couldn't stop myself, it was like the saner part of my brain was watching from afar, treating these two like hostiles, ignoring that I had lived with them for several years.
I saw the two vamps shoot looks at each other, and I couldn't stop the growl percolate from my chest. They were clearly confused by my behavior and I couldn't blame them. I tried to hold on to the fact that I had lived with these two for years, I knew them, they were family, but my wolf was not cooperating and I tried to suppress his natural instinct to rip them apart for being close to my Imprint. I felt the wolves shift uncomfortably behind me and realised they were just as confused too.
"We are qualified, but the decision is Kate's." Carlisle replied, not backing down, but reminding me Kate had the final say, and putting her well being in front. I couldn't argue and it took a little of the wind out of my sails. My wolf wouldn't back down so I switched tack to save face.
"Emb, finish up patrol. Sam." I nodded and he moved once more to the decking to retrieve the bag from Carlisle arms.
Without further word, I stalked over to Kate's car, seeing her worried face peering out from between the front seats. Sam followed and after putting the bag in the trunk, jumped in the passenger seat as I climbed into the driver's seat.
"Why the hell did you lock me in here?!" Kate's indignant words floated past me, and I choose to ignore them. I was far too riled up to answer without causing a full blown argument. I grabbed the keys out of Sam's offered palm and flicked the ignition on and had the car moving in seconds.
"Put your seatbelt on." Sam rumbled over his shoulder to Kate. She sat perched on the edge of the seat for a second before huffing and sliding back to belt up. Her actions were jerky and full of the anger I could feel rolling from her. It tinged her scent with a slight bitterness which, along with the lingering leech smell on her, was not making my wolf any more relaxed.
"Are you going to answer me?" She called from the back. We said nothing as I wound down the Cullen's drive, finally hitting the larger road that would take us to the highway.
"OK, right. So that's how it's going to be then, huh?" She huffed as she threw herself back into the leather, and I caught her grimace as she folded her arms over her chest.
We remained in a suffocating silence as I drove us back to the Rez. I could feel Sam's questioning gaze out of the corner of my eye and chose to ignore it. The upside of being Alpha; I answered to no one.
"Wait, you missed the turn…" I peered briefly at Kate in the rearview mirror as she watched the entrance to her driveway speed by. "Jacob-"
I ignored her, still wound up and fighting the internal battle with my wolf who was still pushing to return and deal with the leeches that had their hands on our Imprint.
"We'll be there shortly." Sam responded when he realized I wouldn't. He didn't elaborate and settled himself back to face the road in front. Kate took the hint and sat back again, mumbling under her breath about my rudeness.
It wasn't long before we reached my Dad's place, and I slowed the car to navigate the tracks that lead into the forest behind the house. It was dark, no-one other than myself and the Pack came down here, so once we reached the treeline, the car was enveloped in darkness.
"Jacob, where are we?" Kate asked, her voice steady, but I could hear the worry that wormed its way into her tone. I couldn't keep my silent at that and gave a curt response as the trees cleared and the building came into view.
"Alpha's den."
I stopped the car next to mine, and jumped out before she could say anything else. Sam did the honors of getting Kate out of the car as I pulled the bag from the trunk, sneering slightly again as eau du leech hit my nose. I was still wearing it on my face as I bypassed Sam holding Kate as I moved to the door, opening it and letting him pass before I followed.
Home sweet fucking home.
Kate
This was… unexpected, to say the least. I'd gone from a Vampire's lair, crypt, whatever, to the literal wolf's den. I tried to look at anything and everything over Sam's shoulder as he strolled through the entrance way and into a large open plan living, dining room with kitchen. My eyes took in the main focal point, a large TV mounted to the longest wall of the room, surrounded by a very long, U shaped sofa. It was similar to the Cullen's with the homely feeling, although this screamed bachelor pad with the dark grey fabrics and numerous car magazines piled on a bench under the TV. Like the Cullen's there were a number of game consoles lined up with controllers dangling to the floor.
Unlike the Cullen's, however, there were a number of dirty crockery littering the area and I couldn't help my nose lifting in minor disgust at spotting dried milk in one nearby bowl as Sam deposited me on one of the free areas of the chair. For its size, there were only a few small parts clear for human habitation and I couldn't stop myself from gingerly leaning over and try and gather some of the detritus up to make room.
"Leave it." Sam spoke, pulling my arms back to my lap as he bent over me, drawing my eyes to his. His expression was softer than before when he dumped me in the car, but there was still a hint of annoyance still emanating from him. I knew now it was aimed at me and it served to get my own ire up and I pulled my hands from his grip, throwing them in the air before crossing them over my chest.
"Fine." They weren't the only one who could give one word answers. And they could clean up their own bloody mess.
He sighed before standing up to his full height and disappearing behind me. I tried to twist to see where he was going, and to check out Jacob's kitchen, but found the stitches in my side pull painfully. I guess the local anesthetic had finally worn off and I smothered a small groan of pain as best I could as I turned forward.
I wasn't sure how long I had sat there, when suddenly Sam and Jacob both came back into my line of sight, making me jump.
"Jesus Christ, can you make some noise next time?" I held my palm over my chest feeling my heart race. This startle reflex was getting real old, real fast. I guess the 'feeling them' part had a minimum distance when in the same room as them.
"Sorry." Sam offered as he began clearing up the mess surrounding me, ferrying dirty plates and cups to the kitchen and piling the magazines in a stack under the TV. Jacob sat on my right, facing me, on the corner of the sofa and he kept his head down as he rifled through the bag from Carlisle, before pulling out a number of tubes and IV bags. I recognised the antibiotics next and raised a questioning eyebrow at him.
"Are you qualified?" I asked, with heavy sarcasm, the crown of his head as he skimmed through a handwritten note from the Doc.
"Nope." He replied, popping the P without looking up.
OK.
"Right. Well, as much fun as this has been, I'd like to go home now." I replied, irritation unmasked in my voice, and started to push myself off the sofa. It was harder than it should be, the deep seat cushions and my throbbing ribs were making my progress ridiculously slow. I'd barely got my foot on the floor before I was pulled under the arms from behind and settled back into my starting position.
"Stay." Sam said, and I could hear the trace of amusement in his tone and it only pissed me off more.
"I'm not a fucking dog."
"No, but we are." Jacob deadpanned as he continued to read the note without looking up. I wanted to throw something at the now chuckling Sam, but he'd cleared any potential missiles from my reach and was now somewhere behind me in the kitchen out of range. I couldn't contain my huff of annoyance and I swear I saw Jacob's lip twitch in amusement, but his face was stoic as he finally raised his head to look at me properly.
Like the first time we saw each other, that time when we'd Imprinted, we held each other's stare. It should have been uncomfortable, awkward given the circumstances of the evening, after all, the fucker had practically kidnapped me from the Cullen's place, but like a pause button had been pressed, it disappeared for the moment as we studied each other.
He looked… stressed. The weight of the world on his broad shoulders. His eyes were guarded, well as much as they could be. I had the distinct impression I was probably seeing more than anyone else would, but even so, I didn't know the man well enough to translate what did leak out from behind the mask.
"I need to set you up with this stuff, as per instructions from the Doc." He spoke. It was firm, but nothing like before after he'd changed from wolf to man in the Cullen's back garden.
"Like I said," I said equally as firmly, "are you qualified?" I held his eye, letting him know I wasn't going to be fobbed off again with a stupid reply.
"Technically, no. But Carlisle trained the Pack in most emergency situations, and sticking IV's, setting bones, first aid… well, I'm probably just as good as a nurse in Fork's general." He held up a fresh cannula in it's blister pack, waiting for me to agree.
I watched his expression in silence, looking for a hint of the jovial man that I'd spoken to on the phone from the hospital in London a few weeks back. It was hard to grasp it was the same person. The voice wasn't quite the same either, which was a silly thing to think, but either because of the distortion of an international call, or the pressure this man was under, I couldn't tie the two together.
"Why didn't you just let me stay at the Cullen's and let the Doctor take care of me?" I asked. I hedged the Imprint would allow me to bargain some answers from him to allow him to stick me. He adjusted his position slightly, letting out a quiet sigh.
"It's hard for us wolves to have our Imprint in that situation."
"So that's why you are cranky?" I turned my head to find Sam, including him in my assessment.
"In a nutshell. Yes." Jacob replied. His jaw twitched as he clenched his teeth together, but I got the impression that wasn't from my words, more an internal battle with himself. It deflated my anger towards them a little as I reminded myself that the Spirit that inhabited their Soul wasn't quite down with the unusual truce the Pack had with the Cullens, but rather running on animal instinct. It pissed me off a little that I couldn't really hold it against them. Well, not too much anyway.
"Right, OK, I understand that. But, you are men too, not just wolves. You can't use that as an excuse to go all neanderthal." I gently berated him. He surprised me by huffing a laugh as a sardonic smile spread itself across his face.
"Not as easy as it looks, sweetheart." He sniffed. His tone was mildly patronising and his lips lifted in a small snarl again as his nose crinkled.
Oh.
I looked to Sam, now hovering a little behind Jacob's shoulder, wondering if he realised what I'd just did. He frowned at me slightly before turning to Jacob, his expression clearing as it clicked.
"Maybe not," I replied, looking back to Jacob, "but the little things would probably help?" I questioned. "I stink, right?" I watched as realisation hit his brain. He threw a look to Sam, who, at the unspoken command, came back around to the front of the sofa and lifted me back into his arms. I soon found myself bustled down another hallway and into a, thankfully, clean bathroom.
"You can get the stitches wet, but don't soak them." He turned out of the room, but returning in seconds with a couple of fresh towels.
"Put all your clothes together, they will need to be washed to get the leech out." He waited for my nod, before pulling the door closed.
I closed my eyes and let my head fall back on my shoulders. Another crazy day to add to the list that was my life now. The panic that consumed me in Carlisle office earlier threatened to engulf me again, but I was able to swallow it down. The motion of starting the shower and getting undressed giving my brain something else to focus on as I reeled off step by step in my mind of what action I was taking and my next one to follow. Like counting sheep I was able to switch off my brain into blissful silence as I went through the motions of shampooing and conditioning my hair, taking great pains to wash every inch of my skin to remove the scent of the Cullen's. Any further conversations with Jacob would probably go a little smoother if his wolf wasn't eating him alive from the inside.
Cleaning finished, I carefully made my way out of the tub and grabbed the towels. It was only after throwing my hair up in a turban that I realised I had no clean clothes. I was about to call out to Sam when I notice someone had sneaked in and replaced my pile of wears with a dark grey thing, with a sealed toothbrush on top. Tucking the bath towel in securely, I picked up the material and brush, allowing it to open up to reveal its shape. It was someone, probably Jacob's, V-neck T-shirt. I placed it back on the counter next to the sink, I thoroughly brushed my teeth, peed and readjusted my hair turban before considering the shirt. Pursing my lips at the size of it, I pulled on the material, working it over the towel turban, cursing myself quietly for not taking it off beforehand and aggravating the stitches again.
With a final yank, it finally pulled over my face, and I groaned at the sudden smack in the face of scent that surrounded me.
No wonder the wolves were riled up. Just that scent of Jacob clinging to an old T-Shirt was making my eyes roll and toes curl, it was no surprise they were at Defcon One given their incredible senses. It again chipped away at my anger towards them.
I let out a long sigh at my small, but significant light bulb moment. This was another bit of my life that was changing and out of my control. I had the navigate the minefield that was the extremely volatile relationship the wolves have with the Cullens, as well as taking into consideration the animal inside each man and the new social construct I found myself in as an Imprint to four of them. As much as I wanted to slap them up the side of the head for their 'you Jane, me Tarzan' behaviour, I was starting to realise it was the wolf manifesting itself through the man in the only way it really knew how to.
I could feel my anger draining away, the effort to hold on to it right now was too much and I shelved it in my mind for another time. Today had been weird, and I just wanted to go to bed and sleep it all off.
Taking care to tug down the long shirt that grazed my knees, and overly aware I was sans underwear, I did a quick sweep of the room, making sure I left it as tidy as I found it, before taking a deep breath and tugging open the door and stepping out into the hallway once more…
… and promptly colliding with Sam.
"Sorry. Were you waiting to use the bathroom?" I asked a little startled again. I needed to get them collars with bells or something.
"Nope. Just waiting for you." He grinned down at me. Even bare foot as he was, without my shoes I felt all five-foot-six of my puny height acutely. It's never been a problem before, but you could easily gain a complex around these giants.
"Right, well, I'm finish- woah!"
I gave him a hard slap on the arm as he once again pulled me up his torso. I wasn't expecting it and the sudden movement made my stomach roil, and my heart skip."
He paused in his motion as he was about to step forward, frowning down at me. "You OK?"
"No really. The stuff Carlisle gave me just upsetting my stomach a little. Being hoiked around like a toddler isn't helping either, so lay off the manhandling please? I can walk."
OK, so my little pep talk in the bathroom clearly needed some more work as I felt my ire flare up again. I might understand why they did things like this, but it sure as hell didn't mean I liked it.
"Sorry." He said quietly. His eyes were full of remorse as he twitched his lips in upset. "It's the wolf, he wants to take care of you, especially as you are injured."
"I know, but you need to at least try and rein it in a little." I replied, feeling my resolve weakening further, the longer I looked at his face.
"I'll try, but please, just let me do this. Until you are better?" He pleaded, full on puppy dog eyes. I wondered if he could pull of that look in his wolf form?
"OK. For now." I tried to glare at him, but it was difficult to maintain it.
"Excellent." He gave me a beaming smile, winking as he moved us back to the main living room.
"Fucker, you had me for a minute there! That's unfair, Sam." I scolded him as he let out a booming laugh at my indignation.
Part of me wanted to laugh with him, the other was feeling unsettled at being played, even if it was out of jest. I still felt a lingering bit of the emotion from earlier, of fear, that I'd originally thought was from the Pack, but it was still hovering around me so I assumed it was all me.
"Hey, I'm sorry, you're just too cute when you start pouting like that." Sam said as he placed me back on the sofa. I lifted my eyes to his, expecting to see a smirk, but found only a warm sincerity instead. I rubbed my palms into my eye sockets trying to get a grip on my seesawing emotions.
"It's fine, it's just been a long day." I looked back up to him with a roll of my eyes at myself and he chuckled slightly before popping another affectionate kiss on my forehead. "My sense of humour does a runner when I'm tired." I joked.
"It's fine, but you are right, I'll try and keep the teasing for when you are less grumpy."
I was about to respond when Jacob appeared again from behind me, and I couldn't help the squeak of surprise I made. I was going to have a bloody heart attack at this rate. I didn't miss the looks the men threw each other.
"Doc says it's an exaggerated startle reflex. Might take some time for me to stop jumping at a gust of wind." I shook my head and flopped my head on the cushion behind as I tried to get my heart under control.
"Sorry. We'll try not to surprise you again. You ready?" Jacob asked, and I opened my eyes to spot him setting out the new IV equipment and pull on some gloves.
I nodded my assent and watched as he set me up. He wasn't a quick at the Doc or Edward, and I could feel the needles go in, but it wasn't too bad and I was actually pretty impressed.
Where's Paul and Embry?" I asked, to take my mind off the dark pit my brain was circling. The feeling of fear was still lingering and making me a little edgy. With nothing to do and with idle hands I found the panic from before bubbling up and I needed a distraction.
"Embs on patrol, he's off at midnight. Paul's outside." Sam dipped his head to the far back wall which was made of sliding glass panes. I couldn't see anything with the glare of the lights inside.
"Is he allowed in?" I asked, suddenly feeling the need to see him, I thought it would settle my rising nerves. I saw the look Sam gave Jacob.
"What?" I asked with some trepidation.
"He's allowed, but he's not able to right now." Sam hedged.
"What do you mean?" I asked again, looking between the two of them.
"He's wolf right now." Jacob replied.
"Can you ask him to change back? I'd like to see him?" I couldn't hide the desperation in my tone and suddenly felt the urge to cry. I just suddenly really wanted to see Paul.
"Please." I shifted in my seat to try and see through the glass again, but it was to no avail.
"He can't change back." Sam said quietly.
"Why not?" I asked. The panic was rising like bile in my throat. The fear was making inroads in my mind again and I could feel my breathing speeding up. It felt like something was wrong. I just wanted to see Paul.
"Sam." I vaguely heard Jacob call Sam, and the next thing I knew he had stood quickly from the sofa next to me and vanished behind me. My attention was brought back to the room suddenly as Sam pushed the whole sofa away from the TV by six feet, with no effort. Before I could ask what he was doing he was up and out of the way as Jacob reappeared, this time carrying a large mattress. He tossed it on the floor in the new space then moved to the glass doors, swinging them open quickly on silent runners.
"She needs you. Be careful." He spoke out into the darkness. I felt my own brow pucker in confusion at the flurry of activity, before understanding hit as a giant grey wolf paced into the room. It whined quietly, stepping from side to side in uncertainty as it crossed the threshold, waiting just outside the sofa den.
I didn't think and held out my arms as the animal trotted forward on silent feet. My fingers sunk into the thick fur around its neck and I pulled the beast closer to bury my face under it's huge jaw, relishing the heat he was putting out and humming in pleasure at the sensation. It was like being in a hot bath and I couldn't get enough of it.
The whining abated and I let out a shuddering breath. Touch. I needed touch. I couldn't stop my hands as they worked into the thick ruff, and I was rewarded for my efforts by a low rumbling vibrating up my fingers and through my chest.
"I thought you were a wolf, not a cat." I whispered. I chuckled at the gentle rebuke he gave me, knocking my head slightly as he chuffed. I could only imagine the eye roll I was getting and I laughed quietly again as I closed my eyes, sinking further into Paul's neck and further into the peace it brought me. I didn't realise I needed this so much until I got it. I vaguely recalled some David Attenborough documentaries from years ago about wolf packs and their behaviours, and understood once more that these men were slaves to the same animal instincts that their animal cousins had. Touch was a big part of this, and it further explained Sam's behaviour in the hallway. Even though he was pulling my leg, there was an element of truth to his words and his actions. The wolf wanted to protect me, sure. But it was more than that. It was the touch.
"Let her breath, Paul."
I heard Jacob, muffled through my haze of bliss. I didn't want to let go and tightened my grip on the fur in my hands. It was in vain however, as I felt my arms being pried tenderly from the wolf in front of me, a sudden bout of lethargy leaving me unable to fight back, and I dropped my arms into my lap.
The world was blurry as Paul backed away, taking that incredible heat and sense of peace with him, and my eyes sluggishly hopped from man to man to beast as I tried to get a grip on myself.
"Sorry. That was nice." I said lamely to them all as I shrugged my shoulders. I was suddenly very tired and in no mood to try and explain myself.
"S'ok, you can have him back, just lift your feet for me." Jacob waited as I did just that, before he shifted the mattress closer to the sofa base, before he started to pull cushions off the back to widen the bed they were making on the floor. Sam offered his hands and pulled me to my feet as Jacob took the last cushion I was sat against, before Paul made doggy circles on the bed. I couldn't help but grin at the sight, and this time I did catch the eye roll. The human expression on the wolf's face was a surreal sight, and it surprisingly felt natural to see it.
Paul lowered his large body with a theatrical flop, making me laugh again, before Sam helped me down next to him, making sure the IV lines were out of harm's way. The heat from Paul was like a siren and I couldn't stop my body gravitating towards him and I rolled into the grotto of his legs, twisting my fingers into the softer fur of his underbelly.
"Avoid going any lower, Kate." Sam raised an eyebrow at me and I quickly moved my fingers away from the area in question, earning a laugh from Sam and Paul, the latter causing me to jiggle against his barreled chest.
"You're mean." I ungraciously whined as I closed my eyes, snuggling further into Paul's heat. The emotions from earlier finally settled and with the clarity came another understanding.
"You OK now?" I whispered into Paul's chest. I felt him still slightly, before he nudged the top of my head, letting out a long sigh of agreement.
That fear. It was Paul all along. I suddenly felt ashamed that it was me that caused him to feel that, knowing full well his history with Imprinting. I could only imagine the chaos I caused them, leaving work early, spending time with the Cullens, unprotected, alone, no one knowing where I was. A little voice inside me called out that I am my own person, I owe them nothing, but the other part, maybe the Imprint part, told me otherwise.
"Sorry." I whispered, knowing they would all hear me. "I sent a message to Marc. Figured he might mention it." It was a lame excuse knowing Marc was slightly hesitant to speak to the Pack. He was, like me, having a hard time processing it all and he didn't have the Imprint to help either. It was the wrong person to leave a message with and I was regretting my petulance attitude when the Edward and Carlisle asked me to update the Pack. God, even the vamps knew what might happen if they found out by accident, but I couldn't see past my own selfishness to see the bigger picture.
I closed my eyes tightly as I silently scolded myself.
"Hey, don't beat yourself up about it, Kate. The Doc gave us orders to let you get rest, so we'll talk about it in the morning OK? Try and get some sleep."
Sam's voice was quiet and calm, but someone was radiating anger still, and it only served to keep my mind looping my behaviour over and over, wishing I'd just sent the message directly to the Pack instead. That small voice was still shouting at me that it wasn't up to them what I do or who I see and, as tired as I was, my brain was on melt down arguing with myself.
I wasn't sure how long I laid there, chewing through my day before I felt a shift in weight behind me. I lurched in surprise and head butted Paul in the jaw, thankfully the thick fur taking the brunt of the impact.
"Shit, sorry, you OK?" Embry slid his arms gently under mine, spooning me from behind. The skin to skin contact made me let out a shuddering sigh I couldn't contain.
"'Time is it?" I grunted, my voice thick with sleep that wouldn't stay with me.
"Just after midnight. You get any sleep?" He whispered, his warm breath sending more delicious shivers down my spine as he spoke into my ear.
"Not really, too much going on in my brain." I sniffed, wishing I could just get a few hours respite from everything. Embry didn't reply, but I heard some movement further away then Embry rolled, taking my body with him, pulling me out from Paul.
I blinked at the change in position, looking up into the stoic face of Jacob as he concentrated on something in his hands, and Sam, just behind him.
"What?" I asked, unable to form a complete sentence as an artificial lethargy swept through me.
"A sedative that Carlisle gave us." Jacob replied, as he pulled away a syringe, handing it to Sam over his shoulder. I couldn't keep my eyes focused at this point as the drug invaded my system. That small voice piped up again at being drugged without consent, but it was quickly swallowed by the pull into darkness.
"Sleep, honey."
It was the final thing I could recall as I welcomed the relief of nothingness.