Chapter 2: Yea or Nay

The next day at school was hard. I was antsy with anticipation for sneaking out tonight, trying to figure out how I was going to do it. I didn't even pay attention to which girl's name was drawn to be my partner for that stupid wedding project. I was busy thinking about what would work the best. Play it sick? Or just tired? Too much homework? I've never had to be sneaky before. I would ask the twins for help, but I didn't want to tip them off to what I was doing. They would definitely be up to sneaking out, the mischievous little buggers. By the time I got home from school I was mentally exhausted, but pretty sure I had a good plan. I would tell my parents I need to go to the library to do research for my English paper.

Turns out I went through all those mental gymnastics for nothing. Grandpa invited me to the meeting. Wow, who'd of guessed that would happen? Not me. Council meetings were only for the council members and could be so hush-hush. When we got to the community building I saw all the oldest sons and grandsons of the council members. This looked like one important meeting, but why would they need the young people? I saw J.J. and wandered my way over to him.

"Hey, Eddy, what's this about? Why are we here?" J.J. asked me.

"I have no idea. I guess we will find out soon enough." We were then separated since the meeting was starting and each of our fathers called us to them. I guess we sit with our families. I settled down next to my dad and prepared myself to listen.

Sam stood up and started, "Thank you all for coming. We have one important order of business tonight. Before we get to that business we will hear our histories."

Sam told us the old stories about our people when they were spirit warriors, how Taha Aki became the first wolf, and the Third Wife. Then Uncle Embry told the stories of the Cullen's and our first treaty with them. He also told the stories of the newborn war, and the coming of the Volturi. He also reviewed our revised treaty with them.

Sam spoke again, "Thank you for listening again to these histories. They will play a part in our decision this evening. Jacob Black will now speak to us."

"Thanks Sam," Grandpa started. "I requested this meeting on behalf of the Cullen's. They would like to move back into the area to be closer to our family. They understand what this would mean to our tribe, particularly our young men, which is why they are asking our consent. I asked our young men to be here as they should have a say in their own fate.

"There are some things to think about. There are eight vampires in their family. That would mean within the next year all the young men here and maybe any little brothers they have would begin to grow rapidly and eventually phase into their wolf forms. The pack resulting from their presence will be quite large, at least two wolves per vampire.

"The Cullen's do not hunt humans, but their presence does bring in others who do. This would put the pack in the position of needing to patrol more often.

"Dr. Cullen is also a very gifted doctor. He delivered all of my children and grandchildren and has doctored me whenever I have needed it. It is very useful to have a doctor nearby to help those of us who can't go to the hospital for obvious reasons. He has also finished Veterinary school a couple of times in the last sixty years and will be able to treat us if we are unable to calm down enough to phase back to human form.

"This would mean a lot to me and my Nessie. She misses all her family, parents and children, when she is away from them for prolonged periods of time. This would give us some years of being all together." Grandpa sat down.

Uh, wow.

Sam stood up again. "This is a very important decision. Let's hear what our young men think." He looked at me, J.J. and the others who were there. We just looked at each other, wondering who would go first. Dad nudged me with his elbow. I stood up.

"Um, I am kind of biased; it is my family we are talking about here. I've never met my great grandparents and would like that. Uh, the thought of being able to change into a wolf sounds pretty cool. I've seen Grandpa Jake as a wolf a couple of times. He has told me a lot about it. It sounds like a pain being able to hear each other's thoughts, but I guess that's just something to get over. I guess its ok with me." I sat down feeling my face get warm. I looked at J.J. and raised my eyebrows.

J.J. stood up. "Yeah, sounds ok to me," then sat down.

One by one the other boys stood up and gave their opinions. I could tell that most of them were trying to keep any excitement off their faces and out of their voices. I knew most of us thought it was really cool having wolves in the family and wouldn't mind it happening to us.

Sam listened to everyone with the same patience and serenity he has with everyone. When we were all finished he spoke again, "Our young men have given us their view. Let's take a vote. Those in favor of granting the Cullen's their request say 'yes.'"

"Yes." That sounded like a lot people.

"Those who would prefer the Cullen's to stay away," continued Sam, "say 'No.'"

"No!" That sounded like a few people who really wished there were more on their side.

"It sounds like the request is granted. Jake, you may tell Nessie to call her family and tell them the good news." Sam smiled. "Thank you all for your input on this important decision and thank you again for coming. Let's all go home."

Everyone stood up and started talking at the same time. We could still hear the hum of voices after we left. The short walk home was quiet. I know I was lost in my thoughts. Mostly I was excited to finally be able to meet my great-grandparents. The closest I have ever come to a vampire was Grandma and she was only half vampire. I wondered what the real thing was like. When Carlisle delivered my younger siblings, my parents made sure I was at someone else's house for a couple of days, so I never met him. Now I will. I think I was more excited about that than becoming a wolf.

When we got home Grandpa announced the news. Grandma was on the phone before he was finished with his sentence. She was so excited.

"Mom! The council said yes! I don't know, let me ask Jake." She turned to Grandpa, "How close was the vote?"

Grandpa told her, "The yes's outnumbered the no's by five to one."

How could grandpa know those exact results? Oh yeah, wolf hearing. Man! Will I be able to do all those things? That would be awesome!

Grandma went back to her conversation with her mom. My mom told me to go to bed. It was pretty late. Eleven thirty. Good thing tomorrow was Saturday. I snuck into the bedroom trying to be extra quiet so I didn't wake up the twins. I didn't want a barrage of questions keeping me from my own thoughts. I climbed into bed and just lay there thinking.

Things are different this time. Last time, in Grandpa's time, they kids didn't know what was happening to them. It caused all kinds of anxiety and bitterness. Grandpa's dad, Billy, knew what was going on because he had seen his grandfather change into a wolf, but didn't tell Grandpa Jake. What's up with that? Meanwhile, Grandpa Jake is freaking out because Sam and his "cult" were looking at him expectantly, like he was supposed to joining them soon. He didn't even think about the legends. The thought that he was changing into a wolf didn't even enter his mind. This time we know ahead of time. Hopefully it won't be as frightening as we were told it could be. I think it was only frightening because they didn't know what was going on. They didn't know that their legends were true. I'm glad the Elders decided to let the younger generation know about our wolfishness. Granted, the general population of our reservation doesn't know, but the children and their spouses were allowed to know. Setting expectations is a great way to avoid drama.

Our treaty with the Cullen's became stronger than ever because Grandpa imprinted on Renesmee. (It's a pack rule that you can't hurt or kill another's imprinting.) The Cullen's are still not allowed on our land unless specifically invited and have the Elder's approval, but I don't think they mind that. I think the only ones that have been here are Carlisle and Grandpa Edward. They keep to themselves most of the time. They may be practiced "vegetarians," but they don't put themselves in temptation's obvious way… well, Grandpa Edward did, but that was supremely unusual and made for quite the family drama.

I must have fallen asleep because I was in the woods, running so fast the green foliage was a blur around me. I felt my brothers around me, all of us following the stench of vampire, an unfamiliar scent. We entered a clearing where the vampire stopped and turned to look at us. It had bright red eyes, its beautiful face twisted into a smirk that seems to say, "Suckers." Before we could attack and rip the leech apart we noticed movement behind him. A large group of vampires came from into the clearing from another direction. They wore long dark robes and moved together as if they were appendages of one being. We knew who they were. The Volturi had returned.