**warning: contains implied abuse themes and domestic violence***
Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with the Twilight Franchise.
Sanctuary
Jacob took over the Alpha position the day Sam wrestled him from Bella's wedding. The wolf refused to lie dormant any longer while the human made all of the decisions. He let his human cast aside their legacy as he stood in the shadows. His female left with his mortal enemy to become one herself. Every choice the rational side made took them a step backwards, and it was time for intuition to carry them for a while.
First order of business, taking what belonged to him. The fight with Sam lasted longer than Jake wanted but it was necessary. Despite Sam's promise to step aside, the animal inside refused to relinquish its hold on the title. Everyone underestimated the beast, thinking he would be satisfied with allowing the younger male to lead. They didn't count on the animal's impulse for physical dominance forcing the young Alpha to beat the older wolf into submission. Sam's wolf settled into the role of Beta without complaint.
It surprised everyone when Embry challenged Sam for the Beta title. Jake stood back as his pack brother and best friend earned his rank of second in command. Embry's change sneaked up on the pack, but Jake remembered the day it started - Bella's graduation party. He rivaled Jake's height and after the newborn battle he had started bulking up. Even his slender wolf gained muscle mass, surpassing both Jared and Paul, to compete with Sam's girth. Victory over the older wolf pushed Embry into his final growth spurt leaving him an inch shorter than Jake himself.
He was equal parts excited and pissed the fuck off by the knowledge. Since childhood, Jake and Embry had an unexplainable connection between them. Their bond grew stronger when Jake joined the pack. It confirmed what Jake felt his entire life. Embry thrived under Jake's leadership, surprising the pack with his natural ease into the powerful position. Sam was all too happy to let go of more responsibility and his wolf was content with still holding a ranked position.
The pack settled under the leadership of Jake and Embry. Each member felt complete once the rightful Alpha took his place amongst them. Fights occurred but not as often as the wolf retreated from lingering at the surface. Jake noticed the lack of need to issue Alpha orders to his pack. A glare and a warning growl from him and his pack complied with their Alpha's wishes. He still came across defiance from Leah and Paul, and, most of the time, Jake deterred the situation by swelling to his full height and folding back his ears.
Leah's wolf calmed down with the exchange of power. Once her ex-boyfriend no longer had a say over her, Leah integrated herself into the human side of the pack as well. No longer the harpy, she was accepted as if they never had past issues. With the help of new blossoming relationships with her brothers, Leah started to let go of the past and live for the present.
Paul gained control over his anger, sparing the lives of his shorts in the process. Still the most volatile wolf of the pack, it took more than a poke to provoke him. He had remarkable control over his quivering form, able to reign himself back, but mishaps happened. Jake understood Paul and his wolf's craving for the fight and nurtured it. They devised a plan, and with the slightest nod from Paul, Jake followed his fighter into the woods and worked off some aggression.
Jake rams his massive frame into the smaller silver wolf's side, throwing him a few feet to the left. Paul slides along the loose dirt, matting his coat further. They feed off each other not knowing who needs it more today. He takes care not to maim his prized fighter, but he was looking to put a hurting on the wolf. The sleek silver wolf wobbles to his feet as Jake prepares to pounce.
A cleared throat and Jake's attention shifts to the smirking figure leaning against the tree. Jake shifts and puts his shorts on. He glances at the silver wolf swaying on his feet. His lips twitch at seeing Paul in such a state. "You good man?" he asks the dazed wolf, who nods and trots away.
Embry pushes from the tree, unfolding his bulky frame, and falls into step with his friend. "I think you might have broken his rib," he says with a chuckle.
Jake flashes a pearly white smile at his friend before shaking off the pride. "I'll take his patrol tonight."
Embry's barking laugh ricochets through the trees. "Very noble of you," he comments.
Jake shrugs his shoulders before replying, "It's the least I can do. You should try it sometime."
"Nah, if I ever need to let go of some pent up aggression I'll just take it out on you," Embry says with a cocky air.
Jake laughs maneuvering Embry into a headlock and giving him a noogie. "In your dreams bro," he says as he drags Embry from the tree line and into his backyard.
Embry shoves from Jake's hold and follows him into the house. Jake tosses Embry a new loaf of bread, a package of meat, and the mustard. He takes a loaf for himself, meat and mayonnaise. They race, throwing elbows here and there to fuck the other up. "Done," Embry announces as he throws his hands up from the twisted up bag holding an entire loaf of sandwiches.
They walk side by side into the Taj. Jake pulls his phone from his back pocket shooting Paul a text, telling him to lay low for the night, and he has the morning shift. The ding from the confirmation reply went unanswered because Jake hadn't sent a request. Embry grabs a few warm sodas from the mini fridge, setting a couple on the tool trolley beside the Rabbit. He props himself against the front bumper of Billy's truck and nibbles at his sandwich as he stays quiet.
Jake makes quick work of the tape guarding his new car part as he stuffs half of a sandwich in his mouth. It took him two weeks to track down the part - the same amount of time she's been gone. He shoves the rest of the sandwich in his mouth as he dives under the hood of the Rabbit. His friend's hunched posture looms in his peripheral as he switches between food and the proper tools to do the job. If anyone had the patience to out wait Embry, it was Jake.
Embry shuffles and drops a fraction of an inch lower on the grill and asks, "Wanna talk about it?"
Jake doesn't hide the smirk over the small victory before he answers. "Nope," he says popping the 'p' at the end.
Embry sighs, running his hand through his hair before letting it go limp to slap against his thigh. "Dude, I just think you should move on. Maybe hook up with that Adrienne girl and see where it goes. If nothing else, you could get your dick wet."
A fierce growl pierces the air between them as Jake's haunches rise at the suggestion. Embry holds his palms facing outward as he says, "Chill dude. I just don't want to see you spiral down and never find your way back. Bella is -"
"She married a fucking bloodsucker, Em. How the fuck can she be happy fucking a corpse?" Jake yells at his friend. Embry ducks as the wrench in Jake's hand sails over his head to implant itself in the interior wall of the Taj. He didn't want to talk about how he wasn't good enough for Bella, or how happy she was with a dead man.
Embry's ascent upward is a cautious one as he watches Jake's muscles flex with tension. The thought of cold dead hands roaming over Bella's soft skin makes his stomach turn. Bella offering her body for pleasure from the carcass makes his half digested lunch spew from his gaping mouth. Jake stands straight as he wipes the back of his hand across his wet lips. "It's fucking nasty, Em," he says as he ducks back under the hood.
A few more torques of the wrench and Jake drops the hood to latch in place. Jake grabs the grease stained rag from the cart and wipes his hands. "What are you doing here anyway? Don't you have a date?" he asks, breaking the tension between them.
Embry blushes as a wide smile swallows his face. He shrugs his shoulders at Jake's chuckle, "Yeah, but she's cool. I told her I needed to see you for a minute," he says unashamed.
Jake wasn't surprised. In wolf form, the whole pack was connected to his emotions. Embry, on the other hand, was attached to Jake in human form as well. It was a link neither could explain. His aggravation must have bled into Embry causing him to seek out his Alpha. "I'm okay, Em. Go to your woman," he says with a slow smile. "I'd hate it if she kicked your ass for making her wait."
Embry laughs and shakes his head at the comment. "That's half the fun," he says with a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows.
Jake balks back from the mental image burning in his brain. "T.M.I., dude, T.M.I." They laugh as they ball up their plastic wrappers and shoot three pointers from across the garage. Their tosses race towards the trash can with Jake's beating Embry's by a hair.
Embry's bangs fall into his eyes as he drops his head. "One day, dude. I'll get you one day."
Jake laughs as they gather their cola cans and head out of sanctuary. Embry drops his empties in the recycle bin and Jake pops his open. He gulps the warm sugar as Embry turns to him. "If you ever wanna talk instead of fight, I'm here," he says.
Jake crushes the can, letting a loud burp pass between them as he tosses the empty can in the bin. "Sure, sure. Now, get the fuck outta here. My dad just got home," he says as the boys bump forearms.
Jake walks through the back door the same time Sue pushes Billy through the front. "Dad, Sue," he says as he follows them into the kitchen.
Sue parks Billy at the table as Jake moves to get their dinnerware from the cabinet. "Hope you're hungry Jake, I brought a casserole," she says with a sweet smile, placing the dish in the middle of the table.
"Starving. Thanks," he replies, putting the plates on the table.
"Well, good. I'm going to go. See you later," she says with a wave.
"Thank you Sue," Billy says before the front door closes behind her.
Jake pulls a water and a beer from the refrigerator before taking a seat at the table. He cuts the casserole in half, scooping some of the halved portion onto his father's plate. The untouched half slides onto Jake's plate before he digs into his meal. They eat in silence as the thick cloud of tension settles around them. Ever since Jake's phase, his and Billy's relationship has become strained.
Jake watches from under his lashes as Billy sits back in his chair to study him. He wipes his mouth onto the napkin before tossing the used paper towel into his cleaned plate. The pop of his beer can cracks as he opens it for a swallow. Billy sucks the bead of alcohol from his top lip before speaking. "I have a powwow to go to this weekend," he says.
Jake grunts into his food, offering no other reply. "I'd like it if you'd come with me," Billy says.
The fork pauses halfway to Jake's mouth as he looks up from his plate. He takes longer than necessary to chew his food before swallowing. His eyes never leave Billy's as he takes a swig from his water bottle. Jake runs his tongue along his teeth before asking, "How long you gonna be gone?"
Billy takes a swallow from his Vitamin R before replying, "Until Monday evening."
Jake nods his head as he rolls a few shifts in the patrol schedule around. "Let me talk to Em and see what I can do," he offers before going back to his dinner. "I have patrol soon but we can leave when I get back."
Billy nods finishing off his beer. "I'll get some shut eye. Wake me up when you are ready," he says before disappearing from the kitchen.
Jake finishes his dinner and uses his super-human speed to do the tedious chore of washing dishes. He gives the table a quick wipe before heading out the back door to phase. The air shimmies around him as the wolf drops on all fours. A large yawn and a stretch later, and Jake was trotting through the trees towards the clearing.
Hiya, boss. 'Thought Paul and Leah were up next? Colin asks.
How's it going Jake? Brady asks
Jake laughs at the anxiety creeping through their link. The younger members were easy to rattle. Chill out guys. Just calling a meeting. Colin keep on the border. Brady meet me in the clearing, Jake says as he rears back to signal his pack.
Seven minds pop into his head as he enters the clearing. Everyone's questions bombard him at the same time.
Is everything okay?
What's going on Jake?
Is anyone hurt?
Is it a leech?
Guys, calm down. Meet me in the clearing. And as far as I know, there hasn't been any leech activity, Jake says before shifting and pulling up his shorts.
"Stay phased Brady," he says as the pack filters, human, from the trees.
Leah slips away from Embry, throwing her arm around her little brother, as the others pretend not to notice. Embry watches her retreat and Jake feels the slightest bit of sadness before the iron gate closes and Embry steps to his right. Jake raises a brow before Embry shakes it off and turns toward the pack. His smirk at LaHote's marginal limp turns to a full blown self-satisfied grin when the other wolf gives him a one finger reply. Quil and Jared continue their debate over graphic novels and the cinema's reproduction of them.
Jake clears his throat, calling the rowdy group to attention. The chatter calms as Jake runs a hand through his hair. "Dad's asked me to go out of town this weekend, so, I need to do a little shuffling in the schedule. I'll be picking up Paul's patrol tonight and he'll -"
"Why does Paul get Friday night off?" Leah asks, shifting her weight in an indication of aggravation.
"Because I saw Paul first," Jake says.
Leah throws a folded fist on her hip, jutting it out the slightest bit. "I would've offered," she huffs.
Jake growls and stands a bit taller as he flashes his gaze at her. "Leah," he says with bite, silencing any further outbursts from the she-wolf.
"Like I was saying; Me and Leah tonight with Sam and Paul in the morning. Leah," Jake says drawing out her name. He doesn't continue until she meets his gaze. "Would you like to take my Sunday night for your Monday night?"
She shuffles her feet before nodding. "Sure, Jake, that'll be cool."
Jake smirks at Leah as she rolls her eyes in response. He loved making her speechless. She used to complain about how unfair Sam was and drive the bullshit into the ground. Now, she had to find new things to bitch about to the pack. "That's Leah and Jared Sunday night with me and Paul Monday night. So, I guess I'll see you guys next week. Brady, you and Colin head out. Leah and I'll take over," he says with a clap and rub of his hands.
Sam clears his throat as the antsy crowd starts to dissipate. "Em wanted to let everyone know she made chili if you're interested," he says.
A chorus of R.S.V.P.s follows the retreating wolves - all but the Beta. The small slender gray wolf peeps from the forest to stare at the pair. Jake waves her off before bumping his shoulder into his brother's. "I figured I'd give you both Monday night off," he says.
Embry checks a quick glance at Jake before looking back to the empty spot in the trees. "Thanks, man."
Jake follows his friend's stare, looking into his own empty hole. "You wanna talk about it?" he asks.
Embry shakes his head before turning to walk in the opposite direction of Sam's house. "I'm here ya know, if you wanna talk," Jake says, throwing Embry's words at him from earlier. "Or fight." He couldn't resist tossing the latter in for good measure.
Embry chuckles and throws his hand up as he continues on his way. "I'll see ya next week Jake. Be safe," he cautions.
"Sure, sure. 'Night, Emb," Jake says before dropping his shorts and shifting into his russet wolf.