A/N: 50 Reviews! I feel so excited about reaching 50 reviews last chapter. Thanks to all those who stuck by me as I took a step away to focus on RL.
~Jacob~
I was in shock as I heard the gunshot. Time slowed to a snail's pace. In a span of five minutes my sister's blood had been spilled in an effort for redemption and my best friend lay in his own pool of blood as a sacrifice for all of us. I didn't have time to react before the pack came storming in looking for direction. I told them to handle the people left after my destruction spree. Sam and I were focused on Seth as the Cullens worked on making a makeshift hospital in the room we had been held captive. Eventually, Seth was stable enough to move and we all shifted to run to the Cullen mansion. The next few hours were touch and go. As I sat vigil by his side, I held the kids hands while they talked to Sam about whether Seth would wake up again. There was nothing we could do but wait. Wait for the moment he opened his eyes. Wait with a bated breathe and a hope for the positive. Over the next few weeks, I slowly took over the role of alpha. My first act as alpha was the trial of Leah and the decision if Rachel could be buried on Quileute lands. Allowing Rachel to be buried was easy because despite what she had done, I felt she redeemed herself in the end with her sacrifice. Leah however was harder because she refused to speak to anyone but Sam or Sue and since Sam refused to even acknowledge her I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Eventually, I had to focus on how to handle her. First, I had to remove my personal feelings. Second, I had to speak with not only the council but everyone involved or affected by her devious behavior and dangerous choices. In the end, I didn't have to do much because she freaked out. I remember it like it was yesterday.
*Flashback*
The council and I had just assembled together. We were waiting for Quil and Jared to bring Leah in. Once she was brought in, Old Quil begun the hearing.
"This meeting is to listen to all the information in reference to atrocities that occurred three weeks ago. Members of our tribe were taken by outsiders who had the intentions of killing them. We lost one member tragically and the other is still fighting for his life. During this trial, we will hear from those involved and affected. To begin with, we will hear from our previous alpha, Sam Uley. Please come forth Sam."
Sam approached the council and begun to speak.
"For years I had known who I was in love with but in a moment it was all lost to me because I thought I had imprinted not on him but his sister. In the months that followed I fought the imprinted bond as best I could until he graciously stepped aside and introduced officially when she visited again. Afterward, Leah and I begun to date and learn about each other. During this time, Leah phased for the first time. Once she phased and I knew that things wouldn't end between us because she was safe from most things with her quick ability to heal and ward off sickness, I figured the next step was to propose which is what I did. We spent the next six months planning and the week of the wedding was finally here. In what I thought was a moment of weakness, Seth and I shared a moment saying goodbye in a way that wasn't respectful of my imprinted bond. Once the moment was over, I felt lost and in his infinite kindheartedness he walked away from me and the tribe to allow his sister happiness. During the next sixteen years, Leah and I attempted to make our marriage work. However, she spent that time focused on herself and her wants never understanding that we need to make decisions for the both of us. She prevented us from having children while I felt the need to share our love with the next generation. I began to feel depressed all the time and it begun to affect my ability to function as a proper alpha and member of our tribe. However, through all this I still continued to stay by her side and hope for things to get better. The final nail in our relationship which caused me to leave was the disregard she had for her family when Seth returned with his children. In time, I realized that she used her knowledge of our history to manipulate not only me but everyone else by faking the imprint. Lastly, she used outside sources to attack not only me and her brother but innocent children because she refuses to let me go. In her need for revenge Leah placed the tribe at risk and almost exposed our secret to the world. Her carelessness allowed a member of this tribe to be brutally murder and another to put into a coma fighting for his life."
"How come you are unable to move forward with your life by forgiving her like you have forgiven Rachel?" Billy asks.
"Rachel repented and did the right thing in the end. She gave her life to save the lives of all us that night. Her sacrifice allowed our children and us to have more time together. I can't blame or hate her because in the end she redeemed herself. Unlike Leah who has yet to ask for forgiveness or rid herself of the malicious thoughts and hatred in her heart for her brother and I for loving each other."
In a surprising twist, Leah came up and sat down to give her testimony. I watched on as she lied to everyone in the room as she was allowed to speak about her actions. She claimed insanity stating that she had no idea what was going on until it was over. With that Old Quil began questioning Leah.
"Leah Clearwater, you said earlier that you had no prior thought to act maliciously towards your brother as he entered adulthood nor knew that the imprint was faked and that your entire relationship was a sham. So I have one quick question for you: why have you yet to sign the divorce papers and allow your brother and Sam to get married and have the family they deserved from the beginning before they were so tragically rip apart as you so eloquently put it?"
Everyone became completely silent as we waited with baited breath to see what she would say. I saw her face twist up for the slightest of moments and glanced around to see if anyone else noticed it besides the pack but they hadn't.
"Yes, that is right. I had no clue that we weren't destined or that I wasn't his imprint. As far as the divorce papers go, I will sign them when I receive them." Leah responded.
Billy was silent as though he were contemplating something. Turning away from Leah, he took a moment to discuss things with the rest of the council before turning away from each other. Signaling for me to come over he asks me to hand the folder and a pen to Leah. I hand them to her and take my seat once again.
"Okay then here you go. Any X you see marks where you need to sign."
A stunned Leah looks down at the folder with the divorce papers and the pen. For a moment it is so quiet that you can hear a pin drop. Until a blood curdling scream erupts from Leah. Looking towards Sam for the first time since the trial begun.
"Why?! Why?! Why?! You just had to get some sense. Start figuring things out for yourself. Things were perfect until that little twit made his way back to the res. I thought he was gone for good when he left before the wedding with Jacob. I had it all figured out from the moment I saw you two kiss all those years ago. What you two fail to realize is that you belong to me, always have, and nothing nor anyone will keep you from me. So it will be a cold day in hell before I sign this. Will it truly matter though because once that thing is gone, you will be normal again."
By the time the last word had left her lips, she was shaking and giving off heat, signaling that she was about to phase. In the next moment, I was face to face with a gray wolf snarling, ready to attack at any moment. I phased on the fly and order to phase back immediately. Before she phased back, I saw her replaying the kiss she had seen all those years ago. In that moment her words from earlier came rushing back. She had known for so long but still broke Seth's heart along with Sam by pulling this treachery.
I knew in that moment she would never let Sam go or not attack Seth and the kids at that point I phased back and asked that everyone leave while I speak with the council. Quil and Jared escorted Leah to where she would be held until judgment. As everyone left but Sam and the pack I asked them to leave as well.
"Sam run a perimeter check before you go back to Seth. The rest of you run your patrols as normal."
Nodding their heads in agreement they all turn and left. Once alone with the council, I turned to address them.
"Hello, council members. As you all know when we are wolves we see into each others minds. With that in mind, I must inform you of what I came across while in Leah's mind. She's known about Sam and Seth's relationship since the beginning. As well as, the relationship between Paul and I. Since she wanted Sam for herself and knew Rachel wanted Paul she enlisted Rachel's help to comb through ancestors journals that were located at Sue's and Billy's houses. She read about the elixir that prevents a true imprint bond from being recognized, as well as, how to fake a bond with another elixir. Lastly, I know that she has no intentions of letting Sam go. I cannot tell you all what to do but I ask that you take this new information into consideration."
"We will. Thank you, Jacob, you may go. We must discuss everything. We will call you back when we reach a verdict." Old Quil replied.
With that I headed over to the Cullen's house to sit with Seth before I went to run my patrol. That's how life went for two weeks before anything happened. Seth was still in a coma. The council had called meeting for that afternoon. We all met up in the council hall and waited for Old Quil to speak.
"Leah Clearwater, please step forward. We will ask you one last time if you are willing to sign the divorce papers and split amicably with Sam."
She tore the divorce papers up and threw it.
"Well then we have our answer. Due to your actions and lack of remorse, we have no choice but to send you to our sister village. You will not be allowed to return to La Push. We will give you a night to pack your things up and then you will be escorted by your alpha to our sister tribe. Once there you will be unable to leave. We will send the rest of your things as soon as your settled." Old Quil speaks to Leah.
My body sags with relief knowing that she will be unable to harm anyone else. After the meeting is over, I stop by to see Seth but there's no change. Then I send a message to my kids and Paul to meet at the house. Thirty minutes, we're all together and I spend the evening with them before leaving in the morning to escort Leah. I hug Billy, Zeke, Sarah, and Halley before heading over to the Clearwaters.
The next three days were spent in a car with Leah, Jared, and myself driving to Oregon.
*End Flashback*
Ever since the attacks things have gotten better between us. The kids have been much more understanding and kind not only to me but Paul as well. Paul. We've been talking and sorting everything out. Discussing feelings and emotions and where we want to go from here. Learning about who we are now. We have relearned each others bodies slowly but haven't gotten to farther than kissing and heavy petting. However, now that things are looking up and Seth is awake, I want to focus on the positives in life. First thing I must do is confront my issues with how I feel about Seth and his choice to sacrifice himself for us. So that we can talk and work through this rut we're in because I am hurt and in turn angry with him. Which is why I'm on home to meet with Seth.
"Hey Jake."
"Hey."
"I want you to understand that I'm trying to work out the feelings I have about the situation. You're my best friend and I want to move past this. I just don't know where to start."
Seth grabs my hand.
"Jake let's not focus on a choice we both know you would have made as well but how we can work on our friendship."
"Okay. Let's make a day for each other each week. Do it how we did it before."
"Cool. So what's been going on with you, Jake?"
"The kids and I are good. Working on things with Paul, but I can tell you that I want to move forward him. To be honest I want him to possess me again. Haha."
"Just terrible. I know what you mean though, I want Sam so badly these days. Now that they've taken the elixir that counteract what Leah and Rachel gave them, things should be alright."
"When do you go back to work? How are you and the kids especially Harry? Have you talk things through?"
"When Carlisle clears me. The kids and I are doing better. We are talking about things now. Why don't we have dinner together like we used?"
"Sounds like a plan. We can start cooking in about an hour. I'll go to the store and pick things up."
"Why don't I join you? Carlisle says I need exercise. Maybe we call EJ and Zeke about joining us?"
"Yeah lets do that."
An hour later, Seth, EJ, Zeke, and I were at the store picking up enough food to cook for all of us. We had split up to cover the grocery list. Three hours later, we are walking out with enough ingredients to fix lasagna, fried chicken, pork, steak, twice baked potatoes, grilled corn, broccoli, salad, and red velvet cake. Feeding a family of shifters can be expensive and time consuming but I love the time I get to spend with Zeke because he tends to stick to himself but lately because of Embry he's been opening up more.
Hezekiah and E.J begin making the cakes and cupcakes, while Seth and I marinate the meats. While the cakes bake and the meats marinate we sat down in the family room and watched tv.
"Dad can I talk to you about something?" E.J asks.
"Yeah, son. What's up?" Seth responds.
"I was wondering if its possible, if you will hate me, if.." E.J starts to ramble before Seth cuts him off.
"I could never hate you, son. So what's going on?"
"CanImoveinwithStephen?" E.J speed talks.
"What was that? You want to what?"
"Move in with Stephen."
"When do you want to move in? Can you give me until graduation?"
Three sets of eyes pop over to Seth in shock.
"Seriously? I can do that. That was the plan anyway. Thanks daddy!"
Elijah jumps up and hugs Seth.
I glance over and Zeke and we exchange looks. As I look at him, I realize that he is growing up before my eyes. I wonder how much longer until I am letting him and his siblings go. The sound of the timer interrupts our relaxation time. EJ and Zeke get up to take the cakes out of the oven. While their in the kitchen, Seth and I bundle up on the couch to watch Underworld. Kate Beckinsale kicks ass in these movies. Neither of us says much and it works for us. In this moment, I know things will be okay.
After the final movie is finished, we head into the kitchen to prepare dinner for the kids. One by one dishes are prepared and set aside. The table is set when the rest of our children arrive. Dinner is a quiet affair and it seems that things are back to normal.
Now I'm alone in the house since the kids went to see their imprints and Seth went home with his kids to put him to bed so he can rest up before they too spent the evening with their imprints. After putting all the dishes away and getting ready for work the next day, I stripped down and got ready for my patrol. Running solo was the best time for me to sort things through. I spent the night trying to figure out how we can move forward and finally make love because its time. Over the next six hours, I started planning out how to get us a day or two alone, what to cook or should we go out and make a day of it. That's perfect. We can go up to Seattle for two days. Leave early in the morning on a Friday and come back on Sunday. Make a weekend of it. Now to find things we both like to do. My patrol was over and thankfully nothing happened.
When I arrived at the house, I didn't bother getting dressed knowing I was gonna head into the shower. Thinking about what this weekend offered, I couldn't help but get a little excited at the prospect of being ravaged by the only person who knew my body inside and out. The way he could work me over always brought me extreme amounts of pleasure.
With thought in mind and the water hitting my back and running down the crack of my ass to wet my pucker, I grabbed a hold of my cock in one hand and slid two fingers into my ass delighted by the pleasurable pain that always came when I did this. I slid my fingers around inside in search of the bulb that would give me the greatest pleasure. When I found it, I could hold back the moans that escaped my mouth as my other began to pick up speed and it ran up and down my shaft and rubbed the swollen head. As my fingers began to transfer in my mind to a long and thick cock that I missed terribly I spurted all over the wall and my hand. Taking a moment to catch my breathe, I watch as the water washes away the traces of my release. I step out of the shower after washing my body off. Since none of the children are home and I'm alone tonight, I dress only in a pair of boxers and head down to my office.
In my office, I search for things to do while in Seattle and make arrangements for accommodations and make reservations for our dinners out. Recently, I've been wanting to get another tattoo that represents who I am and the things that mean everything to me. I spend a few hours designing the complicated tattoo and decide to make an appointment to get it done first thing when we get to Seattle. With plans made for the weekend, I make a list of things that will need to be purchased on our way to the hotel after my tattoo. I am determined to make this an unforgettable weekend. A night that both of us will never forget. With that thought, I shut off my laptop and head to bed with a smile on my face and Paul's face in my mind.