DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Twilight Saga or any of it's characters, but oh how I wish to.

SUMMARY:

Jacob's life has been nothing but hurt and betrayal, but when Sam Uley imprints on him this is bound to change...-right? Jacob's a bit OCC in this one due to his circumstances. SamxJacob, JarredxSeth boyxboy don't like don't read.

WARNING: Contains boyxboy, child abuse, hot guys, supernatural themes, shifters with no shirts, bullying, sparkling vampires, explicit scenes and ever so juicy lemons in later chapters.

Enjoy!

Phoenix

Call Of The Alpha

-Chapter Four-

Jake shivered bitterly against the cold. His feet planted themselves firmly in the dirt, refusing to go any further as they eyed the no-doubt ice-cold creek water. Jake clenched his chattering teeth, almost biting off his tongue in the process. He'd been putting off a bath for quite a few days now, with the move and the ever-cold weather, Jacob hadn't gotten around to it. But now he had to. He was beginning to smell bad enough that the deodorant can he'd nicked the other day was unable to hide it and he was worried that other people were going to notice. Jacob didn't want to think about what would happen if the boys from yesterday caught him with such a stench and what Quil, Embry and Seth would do. He didn't want them disgusted in him, they were the only thing close enough to friends he had here and he didn't want to lose them.

Jake had found the creek running through the forest next to the caravan park after Garrid had finally kicked him out for the night. It wasn't much but it was deep enough to bathe and wash his clothes in. Plus the area was deep enough into the forest for him to do so in private. It was early in the morning, a few hours from school and too early for Garrid to be up yet. This would be his only chance he had to bathe that day and no matter how cold it was Jake knew he had to do it.

Gritting his teeth in determination Jake hauled off his jumper, toed off his shoes and stepped out of his pants. He didn't need to worry about shirts and underwear, he had none. The forest floor was like ice beneath his feet, already his toes felt numb with cold. Jake bundled up his clothes and slowly, being careful not to slip, edged his way down the creek slope and into the water.

As predicted, it was like ice.

For a moment Jake dropped his clothes, wrapping his arms around his chest and shivering.

The quicker you do this, the quicker you can get out.

Jake dunked the clothes under. Scrubbing the decaying fabric with his hands and watching as dirt and blood began to trickle away in the water.

Jake abandoned the clothes for a moment turning his attention to wiping the grime from his own body instead, wincing when the water hit the still open wounds on his skin. Finally wiping the last of the grit from his body he moved onto his hair; it felt like oil. Gritting his teeth once again, Jake held his breath and dunked his head under the water.

When Jake resurfaced, it felt like needles of ice-cold pain had worked his way into his body. He was shaking uncontrollably and he knew it was time to get out.

Scrambling back up the bank, Jake hung his wet clothes over a tree branch and retrieved a dry set from his school bag. He ripped them on including his shoes before finally sitting down and huddling into a ball. He was exhausted from his efforts and his bones ached with the cold. Jake remained as he was, trying to recover his body-heat for a long time. He didn't know how long he sat there for, all he knew was that the warmer he got, the more his fingers and toes burned in pain. He'd let them get too cold and the circulation had begun to decrease, getting his blood pumping once again though his veins was excruciating. But he had no other choice and he'd experience the same pain a number of times. It was just a matter of waiting it out.

When Jake was finally warm enough to move and the pain had reduced to a mere ache, the sun was over the horizon and rising fast. Jacob left his drying clothes where they were- after all it wasn't like someone was going to steal them- and headed back to the caravan park.

Garrid was still snoring by the time he got there, Jake quickly laid out an old box of cereal, some milk and a bowl without taking any of it for himself before shouldering his bag and heading out once again. This time for school.

It was a thirty-minute walk to the reservation's High School and by the time he got there, people were already making their way inside. Amongst the crowd Jacob spotted Seth and Quil.

"H-hey guys." Jake took in their grim expressions.

Oh crap, did they not want to be friends anymore? Where they here to tell him to get lost?

"Quil's sick."

"O-oh…" Jake felt a wave of relief wash over him.

"It wasn't food poisoning, he called me up this morning and said he couldn't give us a lift."

"It's really bad." Seth murmured overtaking Embry. "A few of the adults had to go to his house last night."

"Not just them, Sam's lot went too."

"Leah still hasn't come home yet-"

"-So you know Sam's still there."

"O-oh…" Jake wished he had something else to say.

"It's complete bullshit!" Embry kicked a rock in front of him. "This is how it always starts!"

"Um….w-wh-?"

"Sam's lot." Seth supplied. "The same thing happened with Jarred and Leah, one minute their fine, the next their really sick and Sam's coming over to help"-

"-Next thing you know-BAM- their apart of his cult! Did you hear him say how Sam's being looking at him!"

"I don't… think…" Jacob was cut off by Embry once again, the teen was furious more mad then Jake had ever seen him.

"What do you know Jake! You've only been here a few days!" Jake kept his head down. He knew when to shut up. The last thing he needed was more bruises. Jake refused to admit the sudden water in his eyes was caused by the knowledge that his 'friend' was yelling at him. Seriously, was he really such a cry-baby?

"Embry!"

"He promised Seth! He said no matter what he wouldn't go to them! We all did!"

"Well… we'll just have to remind him, today, after school- we'll go to his house sick or not sick and talk to him." Embry kicked the rock again, thinking about it. Finally he shoved his hands in his pockets, slouching in defeat.

"Okay, but straight after school. No later."

"Deal."

"You coming Jake?"

"Um…"

"You his friend or not?" Jake found himself nodding dumbly, he had wanted to spend the afternoon looking for the local recycling centre so he could drop off the bag of glass bottles he had stashed under the caravan, but he was in no position to turn down friendship.

"O-okay… I'll come."

Jacob found himself regretting his decision to spent his afternoon with Embry almost immediately. Embry's stormy mood failed to improve all day, ending with Seth and Jacob ducking for cover. Jake had found out from Seth that Quil and Embry had been friends since they were in diapers and that the only reason why he was so agro was because he was afraid that Quil would give it all away just for Sam.

To Jacob, he thought that it mustn't have been that much of a friendship if Quil would just throw it all away, but according to Seth no one said no to Sam, if he wanted you in his 'cult' you were in and that terrified them all more than anything.

The day seemed to crawl by, Embry informed them so every couple of minutes and Seth a looking a little uneasy too. The only reason Jake could agree with them was the fact that he had to sit in class and listen to teachers drone on about things he no idea about. He found himself zoning constantly and as a result his mind kept drifting to unwanted thoughts like Garrid and his 'friends' that were arriving either today or tomorrow.

Jacob felt a cold shiver go up his spine and it wasn't from the weather. He hated it when they came up. He hated them.

It was moments like this that Jake would clench his eyes shut, forcing such things from his mind. He always did when 'they' were involved. He tried to block every single memory of them just to keep himself sane.

He wasn't sure if it was working.

On second break things went from bad to worse. Embry had gone to the toilets, Jake and Seth had followed him in. The next thing Jake knew was that he was being pushed, head first into the wall. From the yells around him Jake knew he wasn't the only one.

The four thugs were back.

"Told you we would get yah." Something slammed down on Jake's back, forcing him to the ground, he cried out, his bruised rib courtesy of Garrid was on fire.

"Where's your boy now!" There was a sickening crunch and as Jake looked over from his place on the floor one of the bullies had stepped on Embry's knuckles.

"You arsehole!" Embry was up, filled with blind rage and testosterone, he lunged at one of the guys, Seth following his lead.

Jake just lay there.

He couldn't fight them. He had sworn it to himself.

Raise a hand against another and he'd been a mirror image of Garrid.

"Jake!"

Jacob finally got to his feet. He could feel something wet and slick against his back. It looked like one of these arseholes had reopened a wound. Jake moved forward, pulling the guys off Embry and pushing them out the door… or at least trying to. He couldn't hit, he couldn't punch or spit or kick out, he'd sworn he wouldn't.

So he just sorta pushed them around.

Finally, the sounds of their raised voices attracted the attention of the teachers, but by the time they got there the thugs had left and Jake had backed off into a corner. If he showed he was hurt, he would be in the sick room and if he was in the sick room they would examine him and see what else lay beneath the long-sleeved shirt.

The last thing Jacob could have was that.

So instead, Jake skipped last period and waited outside for Embry and Seth to come out. When they did they were far from happy.

"A-are you guys o-okay?"

"Okay? Okay? Jesus Jake do we look okay? We just had our arses handed to us and here you are just pushing them back and forth! Look at you- you haven't even got a bump on you? What did you do the whole time? Curl up in the corner?"

"I-I didn't-"

"-Yeah whatever." Embry shoved past him. It took Jake all he had not to cry out in pain as he jostled his rib.

"S-s-seth?" The younger boy wouldn't meet his eye, he just shook his head and kept on walking. Jake stood watching them go. The moisture was back in his eyes.

Blinking it away Jacob shifted the bag on his shoulder, trying to keep it away from the re-opened wound. Jake ignored the pain from his side and hurried after them. The last thing he wanted to do was piss them off even more by not following them to Quil's house. Jake sighed. He hoped Quil was in a listening mood.

Sam makes an appearance in the next chapter, so does Garrid's friends things could get interesting!

Thankyou for all the reviews and lovely PM's please keep them coming I love to hear from you and all the feedback is a real confidence booster. I'll try and have the next chapter up within the week.

Phe

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