HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! I hope your day is going fantastic. Here is my gift to you!
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So here is the next chapter...
Chapter 16…A New Beginning
The next day…
Seth was sweating up a storm. He hadn't realized how nervous he was. He was sick to his stomach, the butterflies refused to settle down. To make matters worse, he had to wear a suit and tie. The collar of his shirt may as well have been a tourniquet cutting off the blood flow to his brain. Even though he was quite tan, his face was still drained of all color. The last time he was in this room, his life changed drastically because of what he had done. The stipulations imposed on him for his action, had him becoming a secluded hermit. He felt as if he was being purged from society and shunned. He still felt a twinge of pain and guilt when he stepped into this hall. He swallowed hard as he stood before the committee. All eyes on him. Every council member made this meeting. Billy Black, Old Quil, Joshua Uley, Robert Littlesea, Anthony Cameron. The only one missing was his mother, Sue Clearwater.
"Well?" Old Quil questioned impatiently waiting for an answer. Seth was so nervous, the question had not registered in his brain. His pack brothers sat behind him. All accounted for except for Paul and Brady. They had patrol this morning. The pack was riding on a high that they had not felt in over three years for in the little red house, sitting on their beloved reservation, their alpha had woken up from his comatose state and was no longer dying. His imprint was laying in his arms and the bond was working its magic on both of them.
Jacob had woken up this morning with his protective arms wrapped securely around his imprint, his wolf relishing in the scent that invaded his nose. Earlier, the doctor came to check on the sleeping couple. He made the mistake of trying to reach over and remove the abandon IV ports on Nessie's arm. The russet wolf was not pleased. As soon as the doctor reached over, Jacob's legs wrapped around Nessie's lower half, while his arms cradled her closer to his body. Jacob angled his body to hoover protectively over Nessie's sleeping form, as a growl ripped from his lips letting the good doctor know now was not the time to disturb them. The doctor raised his hands in surrender and backed away from his granddaughter. The russet wolf still bristling within Jacob as he rumbled in annoyance from the uninvited presence. Thankfully, Carlisle got the hint and left the room. It took a good fifteen minutes before the wolf was able to relax his grip on his imprint. Sometime during the night, the couple moved positions with Nessie's back snuggled securely flushed against Jacob's chest, with no space in between the two. Inhaling deeply, Jacob rested his face in her hair. The smell so sweet and satisfying. He missed her smell. He had not had a chance to be this close to his imprint before she left and he was loving it. This time his conscious would not ruin any chance he had to mark his imprint, however Jacob would wait until she gave her permission. He would not force her into anything. He would wait patiently for her. As long as she stayed with him, he would wait. His wolf was not happy, screaming Mine! Mark! Mine! The internal battle he was having would prove to be the biggest test of his control over his wolf, the alpha wolf. Right now, Jacob was happy to have his imprint back. His Nessie.
Her eyes fluttered open as she inhaled deeply, taking in his scent and filling the empty holes in her soul with him. She knew he was awake but she refused to move. The ache that she had become so used to, the ache that had settled in the middle of her chest, was gone and she was momentarily afraid that if she moved from this very spot, it would return. She clung to his arms and his grip around her tightened in response, pulling her even closer to him. She sighed again, smiling. She could get use to this. This is where she belong. She felt whole again. Tears begin to well up as the love she felt and needed crept its way into her heart. Jacob, sensing his imprint emotional state, moved her to face him. She groan at the small space coming between them but smiled when she saw his face. He had already begin to regain color in his cheeks. His deep dark eyes momentarily stunned her into silence. She was unable to look away. The love, the devotion, the admiration that were in his eyes shone through when she locked eyes with him. She could feel herself being filled with all of him. Her once broken heart was slowly being put together by his presence in her life. The fifty foot walls around her heart started to crack as he smiled at her. She took him in. She took all of him in. She had not realized she was crying until he reached over and brushed away the tears with the pad of his thumb. Without thinking, she moved her face into his hands as she closed her eyes, relishing in his touch on her skin. The small electrical charge tingling against her skin, sending waves of pleasure straight to her very soul. She was home. She was whole.
"hey.." he looked into her big chocolate brown eyes, swimming in her presence. He smiled widen when she looked into his eyes.
"hey.." she whispered in the most angelic tone making his heart soar and he thought his heart would burst through his chest at the moment. His hand was still cradling her face as her tiny hand rested on his wrist. He applied the tiniest pressure behind her neck and she moved her face towards his. Her soft breath cascading on his heated skin. The heart monitors picking up speed as their heart rhythm sped up. Both smiled at each other but did not stop their advance. His lips brushed ever so lightly against her feather soft lips. He inhaled deep again. His eyes closed. Her eyes closed. Then in an ever so gentle movement, he pressed into her waiting lips and kissed her with such care and such love. A slow lover's kiss. One to welcome her back into his soul. His tongue ever so gently reached out and crested against her bottom lip, asking for permission. Her lips parted and welcomed his soft, pliable tongue into her warm wet mouth, deepening the kiss. They explored each other's mouth as they finally connected like they had never done before. This simple jester, of a lover's kiss, was the affirmation his wolf needed.
The imprint was accepted.
Back at the town hall, the council noticed the change in the atmosphere as they waited for Seth to answer. The pack looked at each other with widen eyes as they felt the love that filled their alpha's heart, and the wolves within begin to howl in joy. The moment of acceptance was felt by the entire pack. Everyone in the town hall heard the joyful howls of the wolves on patrol. Everyone looked at each other as the pack brothers begin to embrace each other in relief and happiness, tears streaming down their faces. This was the boost Seth needed. His shoulders squared and his chest puffed out. His wolf was proud of him again. He had done good. He cleared his throat and all eyes were back on him. The council members notice the slight change in his stance as he stood before them.
"So, are you ready to answer? Why did you involve yourself in the matter concerning the alpha when you were told to stay away?" Old Quil asked again.
"With all due respect councilman Quil, I knew what I was doing. I'm sure all of you are aware, before the stipulations, I was researching the tribe secrets and traditions."
"Yes, and this got you in the predicament you find yourself today," Robert interrupted.
"Be that as it may, it also help me realize what was needed for our alpha to survive this," he gestured toward his pack brothers. "Jacob and his wolf found themselves in the spirit world because the imprint had been rejected. His imprint was no doubt there in the spirit world as well."
"How can you be sure?" They questioned.
"Well in the many legends that I had read, there was one in particular that caught my attention. It says that the line of alphas was in danger of fading out but that a Halfling would be born into the enemy's world that would not only save the alpha line but would strengthen it in the process."
Hmph! Many of the council members snorted in disbelief.
"Wait! Hear me out. The legend spoke about an alpha whose imprint became rejected by a Halfling. Both of their souls descended into the spirit world, one to reunite with its wolf and the other to seek guidance. The great spirits appoint Taha Aki's ancestor as the guide for the Halfling as she would need to know why the spirits made the wolf imprint on her and why his human side was attracted to her mother? Which in this case I suspect it would be easier for the imprinting to be accepted by her parents."
The members were taking this all in and at this point Seth had their undivided attention.
"She would be the deciding factor on our pack's future. She was the key to it all."
"But this still does not answer the question Seth," Old Quil spoke.
"I'm getting to that. It was also written that the alpha would need the imprint to bring him forth from the spirit world. Without her near, he would stay in the spirit world as his human form died in our world, however what I read was rather peculiar. If I remember correctly it reads something like, 'the habit and needs of a wolf would be the only thing to return the alpha spirit back to its human form'. Now at the time that I read it, I was puzzled at what it meant? It wasn't until I saw Edward…"
"The imprint's father?" a council member asked.
"Yes. I saw him carrying the imprint into the Black residence. She was dying as well because of the rejection. As you know, when an imprint is rejected, both parties suffer, not just the wolf. As Sam can contest to this," Seth looked at Sam, "I was allowed to be near the Black residence because of the state our alpha was in."
"It's true. I couldn't deny his wolf. I wouldn't do it. Our alpha was dying and we all felt the need to be as near as possible," Sam confirmed.
"Thank you Sam," Seth addressed his current alpha before continuing, "When Edward, the imprint's father, placed her body near Jacob, he did something that caught my eye. He placed their hands together, touching each other and we waited for the heart monitors to show some sign of life. That's when it all made sense: 'the habit and needs of a wolf would be the only thing to return the alpha spirit back to its human form'!" Seth was excited by this and was beginning to speak passionately as he continued, "The only ones who understand this will be those who have or are currently phased. When you are in wolf form, our habit is touch. We nuzzle one another as it comforts our wolves. Touch can calm us. Those with imprints understand this in their human forms. Touch provides silent communication of love and devotion, touch in wolf form provide security. When imprints touch, the love and bond flows between the two at the point of touch. Now there is also another habit that wolves do that has carried over into our human form…scent. Each individual has their own unique smell. Regular human cannot detect the scent but for a wolf, it is how we identify each other. How we are able to track each other. We do not need to be near each other to know which one of us has been in the vicinity that we find ourselves in. It is how we track the 'cold ones' as well. If you look closely at those who have phased, you will notice, when we miss each other, our faces will automatically be buried into the neck of our loved ones and we inhale. Their smell calms us. Their smell speak to our wolf. As you saw earlier, when my brothers hugged, they also inhaled each other's scent whether they were aware of it or not."
Some nodded and other's thought back on their actions.
"So you see, when I realized what needed to be done, I had to get in there, regardless of the stipulations placed upon me. I had to save our alpha. I had to redeem myself. It is what needed to be done. Jacob needed to be place close to his imprint's neck and she needed to place her hands on his chest, near his heart in order to retrieve them from the spirit world. Without this single action, they would both be lost to us and our pack would be in danger."
The council members looked at each other, thinking over the information presented to them. The pack waited in anticipation for the board to speak. Last night, after, Jacob and Nessie had regain consciousness, the pack embraced Seth back into their pack. In their eyes, he had redeemed himself. He was no longer an outcast. He had saved their alpha.
"Thank you Seth. We would like to speak to the doctor. We understand he is present?" Old Quil stated. Sam looked over at Carlisle sitting in the back row and nodded for him to come forward. As Carlisle made his way to the front, many of the pack member's wolves bristle at the smell of a bloodsucker in their mist. Carlisle paid no mind to the emotional shift in the air. He was not here to fight.
"Dr. Cullen, thank you for coming here. I understand this is difficult on both parties but I also know this is the only way we are able to get the information we seek." Billy spoke towards the doctor. Carlisle nodded.
"Gentlemen, thank you for having me. I am happy to report that as of this morning, Jacob is headed towards a full recovery. The couple is getting reacquainted. Jacob's appetite has returned. He had a full breakfast this morning and I have no doubt in my mind that he will return to his previous healthy state. If I am correct and be so bold as to be forward, it is in my professional opinion that as this relationship strengthens, so will the bond between wolf and imprint. Jacob will become stronger than he has ever been and will be able to take over his position within the next couple of months. Thank you."
"Thank you Dr. Cullen. You are dismissed."
"Gentlemen." He nodded towards the board and the pack as he made his exit.
Once the doctor was out of the room, Sam stepped up and addressed the council members.
"I have something to add to all of this before you make your decision. As you noticed earlier, there was a shift in the mood. I would like to inform you that the imprint has been accepted. I would also like to inform you, we as a pack have forgiven Seth for his lack in judgement and harbor no ill will towards him. Thank you."
"Thank you Sam. I was wondering why everyone seemed…lighter. We will ask everyone to step out as we talk amongst ourselves. We will call you back in with our decision." Billy spoke. Everyone stood up and begin to exit the room. They were all patting Seth's back and hugging him. The council members took note of their actions and saw how each brother placed their face against Seth's neck and inhaled deeply. They also noted, Sam had constant contact with Seth.
"So…" Seth asked nervously as they closed the door behind them.
"I'm in the dark the same as you pup," Sam stated. "It seems to have gone well but don't get your hopes up. They could keep the sanctions in place until Jacob fully recovers and re-takes his position. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if they waited for his word to release you! So don't get your hopes up just yet. Let's let them convene and call us back when they are ready. Let's go eat. I'm starved!" Sam said as he rubbed his belly as he shoulder hugged Seth. The pack agreed and started to head out towards Sam's house. Breakfast sounded good to the rumbling stomach.
Earlier back at the little red house…
As the couple pulled back from their first kiss, Jacob planted two more soft kisses on his Nessie's soft supple lips before resting back on his pillow, gazing into her eyes. She smiled sweetly at him.
"How are you?" She asked as she took him in. He had lost so much weight and looked so weak. She frowned and chastised herself for putting him in this state. He noticed the concern on her face.
"Hey. Hey. None of that," he reached out and smooth the lines between her brow. "I'm better, now that you are here. I will get better. I was just missing my heart," he smiled widely at her. She couldn't help herself. She smiled right back. At that moment, a loud rumbling noise interrupted the quietness of the room and they both looked down at Jacob's stomach and then back at each other. Both burst out into a fit of laughter! The monster that is Jacob's stomach had enough lovey dovey shit! He was hungry. Jacob's appetite returned full force.
The couple in the living room hugged each other when the ringing bells of laughter from their daughter and the hardy laugh of the russet wolf penetrated the house. They had missed that laugh. The ringing laugh that belong to their flesh and blood. The laugh they thought they would never hear again. They rejoiced at the sound coming from Jacob's bedroom. Emily took this as her cue and proceeded to carry in a tray piled high with food towards the bedroom. She had come over as soon as she heard the couple had awaken. She knew he would be hungry and she knew exactly what his wolf needed.
The door opened to Jacob's bedroom and he momentarily growl a warning while pulling Nessie closer to him.
"Knock, knock! It's me, Emily! I've come bearing gifts!" She chuckled. She had heard the warning growl she had expected. The growl did not phase her. She does live with a wolf after all and she's attune to the habits of the pack, however she also knew Jacob would be grateful for the food she was delivering to him. She stood there and smiled as she took in the sight on the bed. Her heart swelled with love. She waited until Jacob gave her the signal to step forward. Once he smelled the aroma of the food, he sat up as much as his weaken body allowed him and nodded towards Emily. He had a wide, beaming smile, one she never thought she would ever see again. She was protective over the pack and she had been so worried for Jacob. She missed him and was beyond happy he was starting the road to recovery. She smiled brightly at Nessie. She held love for the imprint because she was the key to Jacob's recovery. To love Jacob would be to love Nessie. It was a package deal. You couldn't love one without loving the other. Emily moved towards the couple and placed the tray on Jacob's lap. He smiled at her and clapped his hands together as he looked at the breakfast feast before him.
"Thank you Em!" he said as she reached down and gave him a quick hug and a peck on the cheek.
"Anytime hon!" she beamed as she took Nessie's hand and gave it a light squeeze. She looked at Nessie's arms and frowned. "Should I let your grandfather in to take care of these?" she questioned. Nessie looked down and seemed surprise to spot the IV ports still in her arm. She had not noticed them there before.
"After Jacob and I finish eating, yes please," she stated and smiled at Emily. Emily nodded as she retreated from the room and left the couple alone again. Jacob had already started eating before she had left the room. He leaned over and kissed Nessie on her cheek as he fed her some bacon. She giggled as she took a bite. Both happier than they ever thought would be possible. Jacob wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. She snuggled into his side as they ate in comfortable silence.
After finishing the large breakfast, the couple laid back down and just embraced each other. Another knock was heard at the door and they both rolled their eyes. It seems they would not be left alone this morning. Carlisle peered in and looked directly at Jacob. Jacob nodded his head and allowed the doctor to enter. Carlisle smiled brightly at his granddaughter. He had not seen her this happy in years.
"Good morning, Reneesme! Jacob. I've come to check up on you because I am needed at the town hall. The council is having a meeting this morning and I am to update them on your status. After this I will leave you alone." He beamed a smile at Reneesme. She blushed as she realized her grandfather was in Jacob's room as she laid with him. Such an intimate moment for her. Carlisle set about looking at the monitors and assessing Jacob's and Nessie's condition. He took notes after each assessment.
"Sweetie, I'm going to remove these," he indicated to Nessie's arms. "It will feel a bit funny but don't worry, it will be quick," he winked at her. She smiled and nodded. She was relieved to be able to have the ports removed. Jacob's wolf bristled at the thought of someone other than him touching his imprint. Jake fought down his wolf and let the doctor do what he needed to do. A low rumble could be heard from Jacob as Carlisle neared Nessie.
"Jake, look at me. Baby, it's okay. I'm okay," she cooed as she touched his face with her free hand while her grandfather worked on removing the port. She could feel Jacob calm down when she touched his face. "Look, see all done," she presented him with her freed arm. He frowned at the slight bruise mark left by the port. The bruising was already beginning to heal. He leaned forward and kissed her arm. Carlisle cleared his throat as he indicated he still needed to remove the wires that connected to the heart monitors. A low growl could be heard from Jacob. Nessie cradled her hands on his face and worked to calm him down again as Carlisle work at vampire speed to remove the wires. Jacob barely noticed Carlisle had also removed the wires from his body as well as the ones from his imprint. Damn he works fast!
"So what's the prognosis doc? Will I survive?" He chuckled at his own joke. Carlisle smiled.
"You are healing fast thanks to your wolf gene. You should be up and walking by later this afternoon. You should be at 100% by the end of the month." Jacob frowned at this last part.
"End of the month?" he questioned.
"Jacob, your body has been through so much. It has been three years." Nessie and Jacob winced at this last part. "Even with your wolf gene, your body may heal fast but your mind and soul will need to heal too. Don't worry. You will be able to phase at least by tomorrow." He winked at him.
"Tomorrow? Doc, listen as long as I have Nessie I should be good by the end of the week," he challenged the doctor.
"Babe…please listen to my grandfather. We have been through so much. Not only you but I as well. There is still so much catching up that we need to do before we move forward. The worst is over now. And we can breathe again but let's take it slow until we both feel 100%. Please?" She begged Jacob. He looked at her in awe. She had such wisdom. He couldn't deny her anything right now. He smiled at her before he place a soft kiss on her lips. He rested his forehead on hers and smiled.
"Okay, baby. Whatever you say, I will do." He promised her. She smiled and returned the kiss.
"Sorry to interrupt but one more thing. I am leaving these IVs in Jacob until later this afternoon. I want your body to absorb the rest of the fluids in the IV packs before I take them out," he stated and held out his finger to indicate to Jacob he was not finished. Jacob let his continue. "If you see that the bags are empty, please call me and I will be here to remove the ports and all this equipment from your room." Jacob nodded in agreement.
"Don't worry, grandpa. I'll keep an eye on him," Nessie winked at her grandfather. Carlisle smiled her direction and once he was satisfied Jacob would heed his instruction, he made his exit and left the couple alone again. They both settled back down. Jacob kissed the top of her head as Nessie sighed in contentment. They laid there for a few moments before the silence was broken.
"You know you're never gonna get rid of me now," Jacob smiled.
"Who said I wanted you to go?" She answered.
"Ness, I don't ever want to go through that again. I'm so sorry how I made you feel. I never meant to make you feel like that, like sec-," he began.
"Don't. Just don't, okay?" Nessie interrupted him.
"No, baby. I want to apologi-."
"Jake, baby. There is no need to apologize. It wasn't you, it-."
"Please don't say it was you because we both know it wasn't!" He was growing frustrated and she sensed it. They stay quiet for another little bit before she spoke again.
"Jake, when I was…out, I..uh.." she was trying to find the words and trying to remember something that seem to be slipping away from her memory. Jake laid on his side to face her.
"What is it Ness?"
"I don't know. I just…I can't remember," she tried to remember and shook her head. "I really do need to apology-."
"Don't. Please don't." Jake pleaded. "I fucked up."
"Jake…"
"No really I did. I didn't go after you. I should have," he whispered and looked away. Tears began to stream down his face.
"Jake. Baby? Please look at me," Nessie begged. Jacob lifted his face and willed his eyes to open to meet her gaze. "I don't know but I … I feel like, like this is the way it needed to go. I'm not sure but, but something I feel or just know that this is the way it needed to play out. I mean I was just a horny teenager trying to get in your pants." They both chuckled at the memories. "I think if I had not left, we would have done something we both would have regretted."
"I would never regret anything involving you!"
"Jake, no, not like that."
"Then how Ness?"
"I was still young. I had major, I mean MAJOR raging hormones! I didn't feel like myself. I was trying to be something that I never was. I was trying to fit in a world I didn't really belong."
"But you DO belong! Here with me."
"I know but not in the frame of mind I was in. Look, I was not ready for this. For what we can built now. Back then I thought, I felt you deserved much better than me."
"Oh, Ness," Jacob whispered.
"As fucked up as it all may seem, I felt like I stretched myself beyond my means. I was trying to make you take me because I was so fucked up here and here," she said as she pointed to her head and her heart. "I didn't know what was going on with me. I-I-I was only four human years but when I looked in the mirror I was-I looked fifteen. Do you know what it feels like to feel like you are trapped in a body that you don't know?" Jacob knew the feeling all too well. "My body was changing, fast and I didn't feel like I could catch up, mentally. One minute I'm playing with dolls and the next, bam, hello hormones!" She fell silent and tears begin to tumble down her face. "I-I just didn't want to be. I didn't want to die but I didn't want to live either. I just, I just didn't want to exist." She admitted. A pain shot through Jacob's heart when Nessie confessed this. He could never imagine a world without her. He never wanted to imagine a world without her in it.
"Ness…" he whispered as he begin to cry at the thought of her pain.
"I was just so broken, Jake. I was lost. I di-didn't feel, I just wasn't strong enough to deal with myself much less with the possibility of us," she cried. He pulled her into his warm embrace and let her sob into his chest.
"Ness, I am so sorry. You are my imprint. It was, it IS my responsibility to help you and I fucked up."
"No, Jake. You couldn't have known. No one did because I never let anyone in. I felt like a freak of nature. Like I wasn't supposed to be."
"Ness, don't. Please. Don't say that. You are supposed to be! I would never, I could never…I don't know what I would become without you! I'm lost without you. I can't eat. I can't sleep. Life, I don't want it if it has to be without you! I feel like a fuck up but all that shit disappears when I'm with you. Ness, I love you," he confessed. She looked up at him and gazed in his eyes. "Baby, I love you. And maybe you're right. We weren't ready back then. I just couldn't do what you wanted me too and it was killing me! It went against everything about being bonded with you through imprinting. Everything! I was fighting my pack, I was fighting your parents…I was fighting myself. My wolf was clawing to get to you. To mark you ours but I just couldn't. I just knew it wasn't the right time." His wolf snuck to the surface again, Mark! Mine! and Jacob pushed him down again. "Even now, my wolf wants to mark you. It is taking everything I have to not just do it because I love you. I don't want to rush you. This isn't just about me or my wolf. This is about you. About us. I want you to want me just as much as I want you. I want this between us to be equal. Forget the imprinting because I know deep down inside I would have loved you either way. Imprint or not. That's how much I love you. With my heart. With my soul. With my everything because youare my everything."
"Oh, Jake…" she whispered. Jake caressed her face with the back of his hands and she held onto his wrist. He looked into her eyes and pulled her towards him. He gently placed his lips on hers and kissed her ever so gently. She sobbed into his kiss and he held her in place. She squeezed her eyes shut just wanting him nearer. Jacob sense what she needed and he lightly trace her bottom lip with his tongue, once again seeking permission. She parted her lips and he deepened the kiss. He wanted to convey the love and devotion he felt for her now more than ever. She was his and he wanted her to know he was hers as well. He was so lost and insecure without her but now here in her arms, in his arms, in this lover's kiss, he was found and he was home. Never did he want to be separated from his heart again. Never would he let himself be separated from her again. She pulled back from the kiss and looked directly in his eyes.
"You know you're never gonna get rid of me now," she smiled.
"Who said I wanted you to go?" he answered and then he kissed her again, pulling her closer.
Please review. I will be working on the next chapter and should post at least by tomorrow. Enjoy!
Sorry about grammar and spelling
Much love...