Hellooo again. Um, hope you like the drama in this one...
JPOV
It was the next morning, and the dramatic events of last night were replaying over in my head. Had I been too harsh? Or overreacted, perhaps?
You were fine. At least he didn't attack you. Or vice versa.
I snorted-both mentally and vocally, pausing in my mulling enough to acknowledge her statement.
Thanks for the brilliant pep talk, Leah.
You're welcome. She thought tiredly, almost too tired to lay on any sarcasm.
Leah, you're almost trashed. Go and get some sleep, before I have to make that an order.
It was her turn to snort. Oh yeah, and leave you alone in patrol with a rogue vamp on the loose. Nice.
Brady will be here soon. I reminded her.
In truth, Brady should have arrived fifteen minutes ago. The others, Hayden, Tye and River, had all phased into their human selves at eight, on account of the fact that they had school.
Yeah, I'm sure of that fact. Want me to find out his 20?
Huh? I was genuinely confused.
She rolled her eyes to the heavens.
Want me to find out where he is?
Oh. Sure. Just don't give him crap for being late, okay? That's my job.
Yup. She thought, mentally popping the 'p'.
And get some sleep.
Ugh. Sure, sure. She was starting to sound so much like me, it was almost scary. Catch you later.
Buh-bye. I thought back, and heard the silent waves as she phased.
It was not long before a tired and miffed Brady phased into my head.
Good, you're finally up. Where were you?
I read his mind before he could answer.
Sleeping? Brady, there's a rogue vampire on the loose, and you miss out on patrol for sleep?
I'm sorry, man! You know how mum thinks I'm in a gang, I had to stay home. I'm sorry.
I sighed. One good thing about the mind connection of the pack-I could always tell when they were lying. In Brady's case, he wasn't. Most of the pack's parents didn't know our secret.
Okay, you're excused. Now get your butt around to the western side.
Sure, boss. But where's Leah?
Well, she was looking for you. But I think she went home to sleep.
He shook his shaggy fur vigorously, still trying to wake up properly. Oh. Well, Lord knows she needed it.
I agreed without thinking anything. Instead, I burst into an almost sprint, racing for the east end of the reservation-hopefully I wouldn't run into Sam; none of us wanted an encounter like that again. Setting an example for Brady, I steadied my four legs into a rhythm...one...two...three...
He was surprised, but jogged himself over to the western perimeter, where he too set out in a rhythm. Conversation was useless-we both wanted to keep to our thoughts this morning.
Because of our numbers, I thought about calling in Hayden, or perhaps Tye-Tye, being quiet, was the more favourable option. The southern end needed patrolling-the northern end, the cliffs, didn't require imperative supervising, but the southern end was a different story.
Hey, Brady. I called. I'm gonna go fetch Tye. Run as fast as you can around our half-Okay?
Yeah, sure boss. I'll howl if I need you.
I phased into my human self with an annoyance over being called 'the boss.' I still wasn't used to it.
Coughing and stretching-I hadn't been a human in, well, days-I reached for the band of clothing tied to my left foot. Once I was dressed, I took a wobbly step forward, and then broke into a run. I nearly fell flat on my face.
Recovering, I decided that a steady jog should loosen me up. It was about five miles to Tyes house. An easy distance to cover.
I grunted whenever my legs ached or cramped from being strained in human form. My feet hit the ground unevenly, and I bounced up and down in accordance.
A small, brick house loomed in my vision, and turning my head to examine it, I realised I had reached his house. I stopped running, and thanked the heavens.
I had only taken a single step when I heard a loud, unmistakable howl from the forest-a howl of pain and defiance.
"Tye!" I yelled, hoping he was home. "Get your ass out here, NOW!"
I phased then and there, not caring if my clothes were shredded, and was almost instantaneously connected with Brady's mind once again. In his mind, I saw Sam standing over him, teeth bared, hackles up, ready to spring.
NO!
Brady's thoughts were twisted in panic. I threw back my head and howled once, then sprinted for the cliffs, where they were.
Jared was beside Sam, in wolf form, teeth sunken into his alpha's back leg, trying fruitlessly to stop him.
C'mon, c'mon! I pushed my legs harder than ever, wanting to get to Brady's defenceless form, and fast.
Then, as I watched in horror from Brady's mind, Jared dropped to the ground-an order from his alpha-and Sam's giant form lunged violently for the shaking Brady. Teeth sank into flesh and howls filled the air-one of fury and another of pain.
I burst out of the tree's, and saw for my own eyes the scene that lay before me. Blood dripped from a wound in Bray's chest, and Sam circling him maliciously, waiting for another moment to strike.
I wasted no time. I threw myself at Sam, and he dropped to the ground underneath me with shock and surprise-then he snarled a vicious warning in my head.
Get off me. Now.
Sam. Stop this, NOW. You just attacked my pack. My brother. Go away, Sam. Run.
He collapsed with the weight of my command. I had been born to lead him, and he could not deny that. I moved off him, and he whined with guilt before running into the trees.
Jared, still cowering in the shadows, looked at me. And then he got up.
Jacob.
I started-it was his voice!
And then I groaned.
Not you, too.
Yes, but Brady...he was panicking for his younger brother, injured and bleeding, lying on his side, breathing shallowly.
I phased back, not caring if I was naked or not, and walked towards him.
"Brady." I called gently. "Brady?"
He whined. As a wolf, I hadn't been able to hear his thoughts, so he must have passed out.
"Brady, c'mon kid, I need you to phase back." Jared joined me as a human.
"Hey, Brady, it's me, Jared. You remember me, squirt?"
Brady growled at the nickname he hated. I smiled with relief.
"Hey, kid, you've got to phase back to human." To Jared, I said, "Go and get Seth-you know where he lives. Ask him to get Carlisle for me. Tell him Brady's hurt. But don't say anything about Sam. Comprende?"
He nodded, willing to do anything for his injured brother, and ran into the forest.
"You did good, kid." I turned back to Brady, and laid a hand on his good shoulder, mussing up the grey fur. He whined again, one of appreciation. I needed to communicate with him-to find out what actually happened with Sam-and it was pretty clear that he wasn't going to phase into human.
I backed away from him, meanwhile letting the wolf in me take over. My bones cracked, and in less than a second, I was connected.
Swearing filled my head. Not just from Brady, either. Leah's voice practically drowned out the curses of pain coming from Brady.
Leah, calm down, please. I begged her.
Why?! She mentally screamed.
Just do it.
She didn't reply, instead holding back her curses and profanities for my and Brady's sake.
Kid, what happened?
I don't know, Jake. One second I was running along, searching for smells, and the next, I was tackled from the side. It was like Sam was out of control or something.
In his mind, the images of what occurred replayed for me and Leah, then replaced by his shock of his ex-leader.
Why would he do that to me? He cried, upset.
I didn't answer, just let him mull over his own thoughts. In truth, I had no answer.
I was thinking what I told Sam. Run away.
Very the Lion King.Leah snorted, but inside she was ecstatic about this revelation.
I don't think he'll bother us any more. But I don't know about his pack...will they stay with him?
It depends. Leah replied.
On...? I urged.
What he tells them.
And...there you have it. Third chapter up and running. Dramatic enough? I feel for Brady. In the next chapter, Leah gets a shock, and Jacob gets annoyed. Ooohhhh...press the green button if you wanna find out what happens!!!