CHAPTER SIXTY

(JPOV)

We had never been divided like this. Our defense line was fractured and our communication half missing. When Sam walked away with Jared, Paul and Quil, it had broken the pack mind and that left us even weaker. There was no connection like before. I paced back and forth, seeing Leah, Embry and Seth watching me closely and waiting for me to give them instructions as to what was next. My head was full of their questions as I tried to figure out what the hell my next move was.

Sam had been far from understanding about Rana. He viewed her as a threat only and nothing else. I couldn't bring myself to be angry with him for his reaction. He was justified in his concern and in his opinion, but drawing a line the way he did and harshly dividing us into two packs instead of one was wrong. He hadn't given me the chance to explain more about her, or her history, he had made his decision the first time he saw her. To him, and some of the others, she was a cold one. Nothing more... nothing less and that meant she had to be destroyed before ever gracing our lands. There was no grace period for something like this. No time for reasoning or discussion and up until now, I had always agreed with those terms, but I couldn't go along with them when it came to Rana. She had done a lot for me and I owed her a fighting damn chance.

"Sam should have listened to you. Pig headed as hell he is! He acts like he knows everything! Stupid ass-" Leah huffed angrily, sinking down on her haunches in the dirt.

"It wasn't all his fault! What was he supposed to do? Rana is a cold one and Jacob here wants to move her in on our territory like its some damn family reunion. Was Sam supposed to just go along with it? Step aside and let it happen? It poses a danger to our land and our people, Leah! People like your mother! " Embry snapped back in reply, earning himself a huff from Leah and a snarl from me in response.

"But she was part of this land before!" Seth defended. "Like Jake said, she didn't want to be changed. It wasn't her choice and now she has to spend eternity away from her family and the only people she's ever known? All alone? How is that fair?"

"It's not about what's fair, Seth. It's about what our duty is and that doesn't include housing one of her kind with us." Embry quickly countered, glancing my way when he heard my low growl.

"Alright! Enough!" I declared, seeing them all lower themselves down in submission upon hearing the sound of my harsh tone.

"Look Bro, you're my best friend, and you know I always have your back! But this is crazy!" Embry soon offered up, his head now lowered under the weight of my authority.

I hated using that tone with them. It made me feel like I was ripping away their own free will when I did.

"Sam won't see reason, Jacob. You know he won't. He doesn't have the ability to compromise. Just part of the arrogant ass he is now." Leah quipped.

"Stop it, Leah! You know- We've all seen into his thoughts when you're not out on patrol run with us. He still cares about you and you hate him. You act like he purposely left you for Emily. You know damn well that's not how it happened. Sam hated himself for the pain he caused you. He still thinks about the memories you two shared- Trust me- I know. I see it." Embry replied, his gaze lowering when Leah backed away from him. His words making her momentarily pause her tongue lashing on Sam now. She visibly shrunk back from it, her wolf gaze meeting mine for confirmation.

"You shouldn't have-" Seth began to Embry, but stopped when Leah snarled again.

"Yeah, you should learn when to shut up!"

Embry was right. Sam had let his thoughts slip more than once to us in the past, when we were all out on patrol- everyone but Leah, of course. He tried not to and it was hard for us to pretend we didn't bare witness to it. Sometimes his thoughts were of some of their more intimate moments and it left us all uncomfortable and in an awkward position. Sam apologized for it but he couldn't always control what slipped through the pack mind, even though he tried. We all agreed to keep it to ourselves for Emily's sake alone, but it had proven to be a real challenge on more than one occasion.

"... and you should learn to show Sam some respect, Leah!" Embry bit back.

"Stop!" I yelled, placing myself between them as they both went mute. "This is not helping anything. I need to think and I can't do that with you two going at each other! Sam will always care about you Leah, and for your sake, maybe you should take Embry's advice."

"How are we gonna be able to run patrol with only half the numbers?" Seth soon asked, his tone worried.

"We'll have to cover more ground than we're used to. But we can do it." I assured him. "Right now... I have to go to Sam and try to fix this mess. Even if it ends in a fucking fight. You and Leah stick to the borders for patrol. Embry your coming with me. We'll meet back here in an hour and form another plan."

We broke away from each other then, running in separate directions. Embry was fast to follow me, his silence telling me he too hated this. I made fast time, pausing only when we drew near to Sams back yard, the quietness making me wonder if he was even home or still in wolf form with the others. Embry lingered behind me while I phased back to human form, slipped on my jeans and headed for his front door.

"Stay here." I told him before jogging across his lawn and seeing the porch light flick on.

Emily stepped out, her stance timid when she saw me. "If you're looking for Sam, he isn't back yet, Jacob. Is something wrong? I thought you were all patrolling together tonight?"

I stilled by the porch, seeing her questioning gaze meet mine as she stepped out into the night air.

"No- we're..."

"Emily go back inside. Jacob and I have business to attend to. I'll be right in." Sam's voice called out from behind me, his sudden presence making me tense. I was prepared for this to go all wrong, because one way or the other, I was leaving here with every member of my pack and with me as Alpha. The way it should be.

Sam was quick to kiss Emily and assure her that everything was okay before turning to address me, his look brooding already.

"What do you want, Jacob? We've said everything that needs to be said. There's no need to rehash it all again."

"I don't want it this way."

"You should have thought about that before you-"

"We all make mistakes, Sam." I countered. "I should have told you before I brought her here, but that doesn't mean I regret doing it. She is not a threat or a potential harm to anyone."

"You can't guarantee that. No one can with their kind, Jacob. She is not your mother! She is not Sarah!"

His words sent a jolt of pain through me, bringing me up short as I tried to formulate a response.

Silence surrounded us as he let out a sigh and hunkered down on the porch steps.

"Jake- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-... That was-..."

"It's ok." I replied, swallowing hard at the lump in my throat from the mere mention of her name.

"No it's not. That was an ass thing to say. We might be at odds here, but you're my brother... always. Even if we can't agree. Your rightful place is to be Alpha. I've known that all along and I was happy to step aside for you to claim that birth right, but not at the risk of the entire pack in this instance. I can't in good conscience do that, Jacob. You claim you know her and for that, I am willing to at least meet her and hear your side of the story before taking any further action that might further separate all of us."

"Name the time and place."

"Bring her to the lumber yard with you at dawn. I'll be there waiting- alone. I don't want anyone else involved. Just the three of us, alright?"

"Deal." I replied, reaching out my hand toward him, He shook it and met my gaze with sincerity.

"I have great respect for you, Jacob. You're a fine leader. We just need to find common ground on this... somehow. And that can't involve putting humans at risk- any of them." He clarified.

"I understand, Sam. I do. I will be there at daybreak." I replied, seeing Emily linger by the windows with worry clearly etched on her face. "You better get inside. She looks pretty nervous."

He nodded and watched me head back for the woods, our agreement to resolve this now in place for dawn tomorrow.

A/N: Another chapter update! Thank you to all my great readers and please review and tell me your thoughts about Sams position with Rana. Is he right? Is Jacob wrong? Should there be some kind of compromise here? I'll post tomorrow! Can't wait to hear what you think! Till next time...