CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
FORGIVE AND FORGET
JACOB BLACK:
I returned to the clearing quickly with Carlisle, the good doctor, in tow. Some wedding reception this was turning out to be! I had briefly explained to my new wife what the situation was. Nessie was as worried for Leah as I was. There was no sign of her here, however. Bella and Edward stood with their arms around each other, looking disconcertingly worried. Was it possible that Leah was okay? Bella turned away from the comfort of Edward's arms as I approached. "Oh Jake!" she wailed as I looked at her worriedly. Something was definitely not right. "Bella what is it?" I asked softly. Bella's beautiful topaz eyes were full of sadness. I felt a lump in my throat and my stomach go into knots as I braced myself for bad news.
Bella just stood shaking her head, so Edward took over the conversation. " Jacob, I'm afraid Leah was in a really bad way. Close to death I'm sorry to say. If she'd been human she would not have survived Sam's attack. Etienne took her to Vancouver." he spoke quietly but firmly as he put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "No! Carlisle would have fixed her!" I shouted pointing to the doctor behind me. Carlisle's eyes were fixed on Edward's. Edward nodded his head slightly at something Carlisle must have asked in his mind. I frantically whipped my head between the two hoping my worst fears hadn't been realised. "Please tell my Leah hasn't been changed?" I demanded. Bella came to me then and put her arms around me. "That was Etienne's intention Jacob. She spoke to him before losing consciousness. She begged for help. Edward and I witnessed it. I truly believe she wanted it. Sorry Jake!" Bella stated quietly as her strong arms enveloped me. I struggled to be free but she held me pinned to her. Boy she was strong! Gone were the days when I had the superior strength. I slumped against her as she soothingly stroked my long hair which was tied back neatly in a ponytail especially for my wedding.
Tears sprang out from my eyes as I thought of my dear friend Leah dying. I closed my eyes as I tried to blot out the image of her lying bleeding and torn. Was it worse for her to die and I never see her again or was it worse that she would be changed most probably beyond my recognition? She would live but she wouldn't be her! Then I thought of the girl with her arms around me. Bella was basically still the same person. Yes, she was stronger, yes she was to all intents and purposes dead, but she still had a kind heart, even if it did not beat any more. She still had a beautiful soul, although Edward believed that vampires had no souls. I believed the opposite and I had my suspicions Carlisle did too. Carlisle was looking at my face when I opened my eyes. His kindly expression made me want to cry again. Yes, I knew from personal experience that not all vampires were bad. In fact most of them were just like us really. They wanted to be loved, they needed family around them and they cared for their friends deeply. Leah would still be Leah. If Etienne had managed to change her, that is. What if she had succumbed to death's cold arms, never to wake again. I decided there and then that I hoped she had been changed. To never see her again would be worse. To lose her to such a tragic accident would be worse. Talking of which, just where was Sam? I asked Bella what had become of him.
She gazed into my eyes, her face pure fury. I flinched, she certainly could look scary when she tried to. "He ran off when I confronted him! The horrible coward that he is!" she raged. Edward nodded in agreement behind her. I wondered where he had gone.
Carlisle put a cool hand on my shoulder, "Jake we should be getting back, my Granddaughter will be getting worried and I don't want her special day spoiled any more than it already has, if you don't mind?" he asked me politely. My mind was whirling with the day's events. I wasn't ready to go back to the reception right now, there was something I needed to do first. "I will be back within the hour, Carlisle I promise" I called back over my shoulder as I sprinted away into the woods, quickly phasing into the large russet wolf with ease. I hoped my discarded wedding outfit would survive. "Jacob! Come back! This is my daughter's wedding day you idiot!" shouted Bella in exasperation. Nessie would forgive me. She loved me and I know she wouldn't want me to turn my back on a brother. Despite our fall out, I still wanted to make sure Sam was okay.
I caught his scent on the trees as I swiftly ran through them. Night had fallen and the bright full moon shone down over the woods illuminating the way. Not that I needed it, my wolf eyes could see perfectly fine in the dark. I followed his scent all the way to First Beach where I heard a weak voice call out. "Jake?" I saw Sam lying naked on the sand shivering with cold. Us wolves did not feel cold. Something wasn't right. I sprinted over to him, quickly phasing back. I had tied my smart trousers to my leg before phasing, they had survived the journey here, just. I quickly pulled them on, feeling very grateful that we had already done the wedding photographs or Nessie would have killed me! "Sam! What's happened?" I asked as I knelt down to check he was okay. Through his chattering teeth he managed to whisper to me. "I went for a swim". I shook my head in confusion. "Wolves like to swim" he whispered again as he shivered and shook. I picked him up in a fireman's lift and hurried up the beach with him to my Dad's small house. I practically lived at the Cullen's now and would continue to do so. I wrapped him in a large blanket and made a cup of hot sweet tea. I sat watching him drink it, my mind racing and my tongue itching to ask questions. "Thanks Jacob. I don't deserve your help." Sam spoke quietly. I shrugged, " It's not a problem Sam. I still consider you a brother. I was just mad at you because of your crazy actions" I replied with a half smile. He made an attempt to smile back, albeit weakly.
"So are you going to tell me just what your were doing out there?" I asked. Sam's troubled dark eyes looked up into mine. "Honestly?" I nodded. "Of course" He sighed and looked down at the old wooden kitchen table. " I was running away Jake. Mostly from myself. I realise now what damage I have caused to people I am supposed to love. I guess I wanted to punish myself." he admitted with a long sigh. "By going for a swim in the freezing cold ocean in the middle of Winter?" I chided him gently. He laughed weakly. "It wasn't my best plan I admit. I went into the water as a wolf. I got quite far out, then the bitter cold got right into my bones causing me to phase back involuntarily" he said with a shiver. I topped up his mug, he was still shaking. This was most un shape-shifter like. "That must have been quite frightening" I observed. "It was. My body went in to complete shock. I'm not sure why, but I couldn't move. I was drowning and it was so dark and cold. I realised Emily needed me, she loved me and I adored her. It was too late though, I had sealed my fate. " he admitted sadly. "So how did you end up on the sand?" I asked with much curiosity in my voice. "That's the strange part. I felt arms around me, pulling me back to shore. I thought I was delirious with the cold and my lungs filling up with water, but no it was real." I nodded, eager for him to continue. Sam leaned closer to me, his dark eyes glittering in the lamp light. "I was placed on the sand very gently. I looked up and there was a dark haired angel above me. She had my eyes Jacob!" he said softly. I gasped with shock. "But how could that be?" I stuttered, my mind trying to process the information.
"Jacob, It was my half sister.She was there, I am not making this up." I stared incredulously at him, wondering if he had completely lost it.
"I'm not making it up Jake!" he repeated defiantly.
"It was my sister, Rebecca! "