So, so, so sorry for the ridiculous long delay in writing for this story. I had taken a break on purpose, then my computer crashed and I lost all my research and plot lines. I didn't want to have to do it all again, and now have convinced myself to go ahead and finish it out.
Enjoy!
Jake raced down the steps quickly, it had been over two years since he had seen Mr. Teague. For some reason, the teacher had left and moved away rather abruptly. It was soon after that that Jake had made his first transformation; it was almost like he had lost his favorite mentor at the same time that he had lost his innocence.
Jake carefully enfolded his old teacher in a hug, making sure that in his excitement that he didn't hurt him.
"Jake, you have certainly changed! Grown a foot, cut your hair, and not living on the reservation. What happened? Why aren't you living with your dad?" Aiden stepped back and looked his old student up and down. Worry tugged at his face, Jake had changed a great deal in a small amount of time.
"Jake?" Gabriel stepped forward at this point, a hand on his son's chest stopping him from following. "How do you know this man?" Gabriel cut a quick glance at Aiden, making it clear that 25 years had not blunted his memories or his anger. Aiden quickly caught the meaning of the glance and paled slightly, stepping back toward his car.
"Mr. Teague was my teacher at school in La Push. He actually was one of the few that got me to turn in my homework," Jake laughed and seemed to not notice the undercurrents that were sweeping between his old teacher and boss.
"I see," Gabriel said. "Greg, you and Zach head inside and make sure dinner prep is going well and ask Vivian to join me outside. Jake, will you excuse me and Mr. Teague for a few minutes. You can finish your conversation then."
Greg and Zach immediately turned inside, Jake was confused but nodded and headed in after them. A tense silence held over the yard, Gabriel was clearly waiting for Vivian to come outside.
"I wouldn't have stayed here if I knew that your family owned the property. My cousin is getting married in town and they recommended the Inn as somewhere to stay." Aiden nervously balanced from foot to foot, the last time he had seen Gabriel the man had threatened to kill him.
Vivian stepped onto the porch and froze when she noticed the man her husband was standing by. Greg hadn't told her who was outside just that she needed to go outside now. She slowly walked down the stairs and took her husband's outstretched hand.
"Aiden," was all she said as she looked at her husband. The worry and slight panic in her eyes as she viewed the man standing in front of her house was obvious.
"Vivian, I don't want to worry anyone. I'll stay with family in town and not come out here anymore. I didn't know that you were here. I apologize for intruding," Aiden held his hands up in peace.
"Good, just remember what I told you 25 years ago. If anyone in town suddenly develops an idea of who we are, I know where to look. And you know what I am capable of. Say goodbye to Jake, he's just an innocent kid here and leave."
Gabriel gave one last hard look at Aiden and taking his wife with him headed inside. He simply nodded at Jake that he could resume talking to his teacher and Vivian still following him walked upstairs to his office. Once there he turned to Greg and Ulf who were waiting for him inside.
"You know what he looks like, follow him and make sure he keeps mouth shut while he is here. I want to know the minute that he leaves, and I want you to make sure he really does leave." Gabriel waved his hand at them and they left the office.
Gabriel sent a glance to his wife and deliberately let his expression soften. "We will be fine Vivi, he didn't tear us apart then, he can't tear us apart now."
Vivian tried to smile back, but worry permeated her mind. They had lost so much the last time they had seen Aiden Teague, so much death and suffering. She hoped that his reappearance in their lives didn't lead to more.
Jake slowly walked back to his teacher, the whole greeting by Gabriel had weirded him out. What's more, he could see and smell how worried and nervous Mrs. Baptiste had been. Jake had noticed in the few days that he had been with the family that she was always confident and calm. Her mother, while much less seen around the property, was much the same; beautiful, tall, confident, and someone that was regarded as a leader by everyone there.
He was shaken, simply because Mrs. Baptiste had been shaken. Jake didn't realize it, but he was already becoming a part of a new pack that he didn't even know existed yet. He was also unaware that Serena had snuck around the back and was close enough to listen to the whole conversation.
"What was that all about?" Jake asked as he once again approached his teacher.
"Me first, this time Jacob. What are you doing here? The last time I saw you Sam Uley was forming some sort of gang with young men from the reservation and I thought that you were staying out of it. But, look at you!" Aiden waved his hands in Jacob's general direction. "You're living here, does your dad even know where you are, and what's worse you look like those boys in the gang! You hair is short, your all muscle, and I know damn well you aren't going to school if you're working full time here."
"Look Mr. Teague, I know that you didn't approve of Sam and thought that he was making a gang, but that's not it at all. We aren't a gang or a troupe of roving men or anything, it's more like, it's more like… uh… ah, well. Crap, I don't know what to say… It was like a pack I guess." Jacob was squinting off into the distance as he spoke trying to align his thoughts. He missed the startled look that crossed Aiden's face.
"You know how animals that live in a pack all rely on one another and help each other with any problems? Well, that's how the guys and I were. It's really not their fault that I left La Push, something else happened."
"You mean Bella Swan marrying Edward Cullen in the fall?" Aiden shrewdly guessed. "Yeah, it made news down in Arizona where I'm living now. Another teacher mentioned it when we were catching up once, teenage marriages aren't actually all that common." Aiden softened as he saw the expression that crossed Jake's face.
"I know that she was your friend Jake, but she was older than you. And she dated that Cullen kid pretty seriously while I was there."
"He's dangerous!" Jacob exploded, "No matter what I said to her, she would never believe that I was just trying to protect her. It was always Edward for her, he left her alone! In danger! And the minute he came back, the frigging day that he waltzed back into town she picks right back up with him. And marries that scumbag, that blood-, that asshole. She's no longer the girl that I thought she was, I can't be friends with someone that disregards anything I say to her about him. I had to leave."
"If she's what was keeping you away then why not say something to someone? Surely, maybe she's going to college and they'll be leaving? Or has already left?" Aiden suggested. He put his hand on Jacob's shoulder and was surprised at the heat that radiated off him. "You're not sick are you? You feel really warm."
"I'm fine, I run warm now," Jacob sighed and ran his hand through his hair missing the confused expression that crossed Aiden's face. "No, I don't want to go back there anymore. I always wanted more than living on the reservation, maybe now is my chance. So, what's your story with the Baptistes?"
"Well," Aiden shifted again, glancing up at the windows that were facing them. "I dated Vivian when we were teens. Before she dated Gabriel and married him, obviously, the relationship didn't end well. The reason why isn't important, but it brings up bad memories for the both of us. I wouldn't have come here if I knew that they owned it. Anyway," Aiden pulled out his car keys and gave Jacob a quick hug. "Stay safe Jake, don't do anything stupid. Call your dad, and really think about going home. Ok?"
"Sure, sure. I'll think about it, but I'm happy here for now." Jake raised his hand in a wave and watched his teacher drive back down the long stretch of driveway.
Aiden watched in the rearview mirror as Jacob and the house disappeared. He couldn't trust them to not kill the boy the minute he found something out. His hands tightened on the steering wheel as a memory flashed in his mind.
Gabriel stood before him in the woods advancing on the woman, Astrid, who had killed his friend and tried to kill him. Rafe already laid dead in the woods from Aiden's gunshot and Vivian sobbed nearby.
Gabriel stood in front of Astrid, the other wolves watching. "We have no jail, we have no jailer. We have only one punishment for endangering the pack." Gabriel then seized the woman's head in his hands and swiftly broke her neck. She fell to the floor of the woods, once again completely and utterly human.
The terror that had griped Aiden had seemed endless, and when Gabriel had turned and looked at him he was sure his death was next. He had raised the gun again, but Vivian had jumped in front and taken the silver bullet instead. She hadn't died, but Gabriel had roared like a wounded beast, his threat still thundered in Aiden's head.
"If she dies, you die. And let me make something clear meat-boy, we are everywhere. If you tell a single soul about anything you learned, you will die. You will not be safe from us anywhere you go. Now RUN!"
Aiden pulled himself out of his memories, he had to do something to protect Jacob. If they were to hurt him, Aiden would never forgive himself for not doing something to stop them.
He fished his cellphone out of his pocket and looked through his contacts. Yes, he still had Jacob's home phone number still saved. If he could get Mr. Black on the line, maybe he could save Jacob.
The line rang and rang, Aiden almost hung up and decided to try later when it was finally picked up.
"Hello?" The voice was young, most likely not Jacob's dad.
"Hello, I need to speak with Mr. Black. It's about his son Jacob."
"Is Jake alright?" The voice picked up in volume and Aiden could sense starting panic.
"Yes, I just need to talk to his dad. Please it's urgent."
"Sure, uh hold on."
Aiden could hear the phone being passed and whispers, catching only Jacob's name.
"Who is this?" The voice held an authority that Aiden couldn't deny and made him quickly tell the truth.
"It's Aiden Teague, I was Jacob's teacher about a year ago."
"I remember you, Jacob doesn't go to that school anymore and you don't teach here anymore so what do you want?"
"I'm in Vermont, I just saw Jacob at an inn that's being run by people I happen to know from a long time ago. Listen, I don't think it's safe that Jacob is working for them and living with them. They're, the only real way I can describe it is as a cult. They can be very dangerous to people that cross them. Jacob needs to come home as soon as possible."
"Are you sure these people are dangerous?" Jacob's dad seemed a little less than convinced.
"The last place they settled was is Maryland, and three people died while they were there, and two more that were supposed to be part of their family. It's not safe for Jacob to be around them." Aiden struggled to balance his breathing, he wanted Mr. Black to believe him, not think he was crazy.
"Very well, thank you for your information." The line went dead. Aiden closed the phone and slid it back into his pocket. He had done all he could, he wasn't staying in this town close to those monsters any longer than he had to.
Billy Black hung up the phone and sat for a minute in silence. Slowly he turned and looked at Paul, the boy who was basically a son to him now that he and Rebecca were together.
"Take Embry and go find Jake. See if these people are truly dangerous, if they are bring him home by any means necessary. It is long past time that he get over Bella Swan and come home."
Paul swallowed and looked at Billy, "Shouldn't we talk to Sam about this first? He is the Alpha, and he said to let Jake come home on his own time."
Billy seemed to swell in anger, "I'm a Black and I am an Elder. You will listen to what I say Paul. Now go!"
The flashback is from Blood and Chocolate, and is correct to the original story just told from Aiden's pov rather than Vivian's.