CHAPTER THIRTEEN
(JPOV)
The remainder of the evening flew by and it was soon approaching midnight. Bella had fallen fast asleep with her head on my shoulder over an hour ago. I didn't dare move much since she'd dozed off. Charlie had laid a blanket over her sometime shortly after when he noticed her sleeping sound.
"Getting pretty late isn't it?" He yawned, glancing down at his wrist watch.
"It certainly is getting late in the evening, old friend. Should get heading on home now, Jake." Billy replied.
I nodded and placed a kiss on Bella's forehead as I slipped my hand out from hers and tried not to wake her up when I went to leave.
"Thanks for coming over. Been nice to have the company again and uh..." Charlie paused, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. "I want you to know that seeing my daughter's smile finally return means the world to me, Jake. I know damn well you've had a lot to do with that. So, Thank you."
I shook his hand as I met his sincere gaze, seeing the genuine truth behind his words to me.
"We'll be seeing you around this week, Charlie. Thanks again for dinner. Was a great old time." Billy sighed when we approached the door to leave.
The drive back home was silent. My father having fallen asleep on the ride and leaving me to make a few calls on my cell. I called Paul and Quil, knowing they'd willingly come along with me to a certain demonic lair when I filled them in on what had gone down earlier at Bella's.
Needless to say, I was right. They were more than happy to meet up in my garage once I got back home and helped dad get settled in and comfortable for the night.
By the time I reached the garage, seeing them both waiting for my arrival, my palms were already twitching to get my hands on that self righteous, think he knows best, arrogant asshole.
"What's the plan man?" Quil hedged, approaching me with a mischievous grin. "Did he really show up at her house? In her damn room, no less?"
"Yeah." I spat in reply, motioning for them to follow me as I ran off into the darkened woods of the night. "Come on. Stay close behind me and follow my lead. It's about time someone gave him a dose of his own fucking medicine."
We ran with vast speed through the dense forest, keeping our senses alert and searching for the trail of his acidic and revolting stench as we neared his old mansion. Seeing the house covered in darkness as the stench soon struck us all in the face.
"He's here." Paul huffed. "...And he's not alone."
"Looks like he brought his sister along for the trip. I can smell her." Quil added.
The lights suddenly turned on in the house as we lingered there by the trees.
"The two of you stay here and keep watch. I'll be back."
"Got it." Paul huffed, his gaze meeting mine before I took cover and phased back to human form, slipping on my jeans and heading for their front door.
I knocked only once before he answered. His eyes assessing me and his dismissive tone only further pissing me off
"Ah, yes. Jacob... of course. I've been expecting you for some time now."
"I'm sure you have." I replied, seeing his eyes narrow.
"You know... there's really no point in dragging this out. Say what you will. It won't change anything. I'm here for Bella. No words from you will change that."
He tried to close the door, but my hand firmly caught it and shoved it back open, welcoming myself in without the need for his consent.
"My turn to talk." I snapped, approaching him in two long strides. "If I ever catch you forcing your way into her house again... or putting your cold hands on her...-"
"You'll what?" He countered.
"Don't push me." I warned.
"Go ahead. Show Bella your true colors. Killing me would devastate her and you know it."
"What I know is what she wants... and that's me... us. You made your choice months ago when you left her alone in the woods. Abandoned her there. Made her feel not good enough for you. But the truth is, you were never good enough for her. You took her choices away, selfishly thinking you knew what was best for her, and left her a shell of herself for months. Charlie didn't even recognize his own daughter. Now... here you are back in town. Expecting her to welcome you back into her life with open arms. Expecting her to treat you like your some night in shining armor on a white horse. Give me a fucking break! Who the hell do you think you are? You have absolutely no claim on her and if you cared for her well being at all... you'd leave her the hell alone."
I saw him take a step back and his eyes grow haunted with his reply. "I made a mistake-"
"You threw her away like she meant nothing. It was cold... heartless... but I know that's just what you are. A soulless monster. So I expected no less from you."
"You and I come from much different worlds, Jacob."
"Your point?"
"Don't think you know me... Don't be so foolish as to assume you can predict the measures I'm willing to take in order to get her back. You see, I am a very patient and persistent individual. I have no trouble waiting for you to screw things up all on your own with Bella."
"Fuck you." I spat angrily.
"You know it's true. After a while, Bella will see it too, and she'll come running back to me, and I will be right here, waiting for her with open arms."
His pompous arrogance, and over confident words had my anger peaked and my tremors nearly all consuming, as I fought the urge to phase right here in his house.
"Hear this... I don't know what kind of fucking game you're playing, but I intend to beat you at it. You're not coming back into her life and turning her whole damn world upside down... ever again. She's finally happy... with me."
"We shall see."
"I'm warning you." I countered.
"I know the life you can give her. The life you can offer her that I can't, but you see, her immortality is a fate that has yet to be sealed and one I intend to seal myself. You wouldn't be so foolish as to interfere with that."
"Your confidence is misplaced. Have you forgotten the treaty. You even fucking try it and we'll end you- all of you." I threatened, my anger reaching new levels.
"I do recall the treaty-"
"Than you'd be wise to abide by the rules in it."
"And you'd be wise to stay out of my way, Jacob."
"She made a choice to be with me. Respect it... or face the consequences." I yelled, turning my back to him and slamming his front door behind me.
He made the mistake of following me out, his cold hand grabbing my arm and my tremors rocking through me, as my flesh was rapidly replaced with the thick russet fur of the wolf within.
I was now on all fours and facing him, satisfied to see his wide eyed expression. I roared in fury and was soon joined by Paul and Quil. Their matching roars loud and echoing off the surrounding trees.
Alice made a sudden appearance then, her own gaze matching her brothers.
"Edward, we're outnumbered here. Don't push them! Remember what Carlisle's warning was before we departed. This is a war we don't want. Something he and Esme tried to warn you about before you came back here."
"I don't care." He snapped at her, taking a step toward me. I advanced forward, a menacing roar ripping its way from me.
Alice pulled on his arm, trying to get him to see reason. "We. Don't. Want. This. Now."
"I do." He yelled. "I want Bella. I've endured the torture of living without her long enough. No more."
My roar continued as he approached me further, despite Alice's cautioned tone.
Paul stepped up beside me, his head now low to the ground as he snarled in warning to him, both ears laid fully back.
"EDWARD!" Alice yelled, pushing him back with great force. "STOP!"
He hissed and fought against her until a loud and thunderous roar of power shook the ground beneath us as Sam emerged from the tree line. His deadly blackened gaze on them and their fighting seizing in an instant.
"We will go..." Alice whispered. Her tone now matching her petite stature.
We watched them as they retreated back inside. Their unease evident in their golden gaze.
Sam's order was loud and clear to us then.
"Go back to the Reservation. NOW!"
I felt the heavy weight of the Alpha command wash over me like a tidal wave. It's weight hard to bear as my head immediately bowed to him in obedience. We all followed him back to the Reservation without so much as a thought. The silence in our minds unsettling when we approached my house and soon phased back to human form.
"What the HELL were you thinking. I never gave any of you permission to go there! EXPLANATION! NOW!"
I stepped forward and met his heated stare. "It was my idea. I asked them to go."
"WHY?!" Sam yelled, getting in my face. "I told you I would keep a watchful eye on this."
"It's not enough, Sam." I countered.
"Not enough? Are you questioning me, Jacob?"
"I'm simply telling you that keeping a watchful eye on him, is not enough. Take it as you will."
I was pushing the limit here and I knew it. Sam's gaze narrowing back at me in accusation and anger.
"No one goes there again. Not one of you. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?" He shouted.
"Crystal." I scoffed, storming off to my garage and letting a spew of cuss words leave me along the way.
I was pissed to have to submit to him. Though I knew he was my Alpha and I respected him, there were times a push from within me would rise to challenge him and I would have to fight it with everything I had, and not act on the constant urge to take what was rightfully mine. It was something I didn't want to do just yet, but if I felt Sam wasn't taking this shit serious enough with Cullen... If I felt he was taking a risk with Bella's safety then something would have to change and soon.
Maybe... Just maybe... I needed to take my rightful place in this pack. Only time would tell.