AN1: Many thanks to my Beta acemckean. Read her super awesome stories The Cullen Brothers and Marital Bliss?
AN2: I am putting this chapter out early because my Beta rocks and so do my readers and reviewers.
AN3: This chapter is for my daughter Bek. She is a Jacob fan.
CHAPTER 27
Jacob's POV
I walked into the kitchen to see my dad sitting in the corner. I knew something was wrong right away.
"What's up Dad?" I asked him.
"Isabella is missing. She has apparently run away," Billy told me. "I think it has something to do with that boyfriend of hers. Cullen."
I slammed my hand into the table and felt the anger burn through me. Bella was gone and I wouldn't get my chance. The rage burned hotter and hotter until I felt like I was burning. I looked at my dad and he at me, slowly backing up his chair.
A growl ripped through my throat and before I knew it, my clothes exploded and I was staring down at my dad from a higher vantage point.
"Jake, I know you are confused. Remember the legends Jake. Remember! They are all true," he said to me, "The others are coming now. Sam will help you. Paul and Jared and Embry too."
Before I knew what was happening voices flooded my mind.
"Jacob, it's Sam we are on our way. Don't do anything until we get there," Sam thought.
"Welcome to the pack Jacob," Jared thought.
"Jacob, I have missed you Man!! Yeah now we can run together. I knew you were going wolf Man!! Hey Paul you owe me $10," Embry thought.
"Shut up Embry," Paul thought.
I stared at my dad trying to figure it all out. The men that turn into wolves. The men that turn into wolves. Great I'm a freaking werewolf?!? Stupid legends!!!! If I was a wolf that meant the Cullens could truly be cold ones. Vampires??
"That's right Jake. They are vampires. We protect the village and humans in general. We will find out what happened to her and take them down if they've done anything," Sam thought.
"I'd like to rip them apart. Shred them and watch them BURN," Paul thought.
"Ummm Paul, chill it now. We don't know what's up yet," Embry thought, "maybe she did just run away."
"Doesn't matter. Stupid vampires deserve to die!" Paul thought.
I was still standing shocked in my kitchen. Looking around and listening to these freaks in my head.
"Coming through the door in ten seconds Jake. Don't freak.... 10...9...8..." Sam counted down in my head.
I took a deep, steadying breath and felt myself relax. I closed my eyes pulling myself together with a deep breath.. When I opened them again, I was standing in my kitchen at my regular height. Just then, four huge wolves burst in the back door and stared at me. Paul made a sound that sounded an awful lot like a laugh. I looked down at myself and noticed I was naked.
I sprinted for my room, as I felt the air in the house shimmer for lack of a better word. I grabbed a pair of shorts and tossed them on. As I walked out the door to my room, I saw Sam, Paul, Jared and Embry in the hall.
"How did you do that Jacob?" Sam asked.
"Change into a wolf? Beats the hell out of me. One second I was mad then the next KABOOM!" I shrugged.
"Jacob, we know how you became a wolf, but how did you change yourself back Man? It took them four days to get me calm enough to switch back. You did it in 5 minutes!" Embry said.
"I can't explain Sam. I'm still coming to grips with being a myth you know," I said.
The guys all grabbed a place on the couch and explained my duties and the rules. Sam is the Alpha and I must obey the Alpha at all times. Our main job is to protect La Push, but our duty extends to the humans around us. Then they start in on the Cullens.
"I'm not sure if Isabella knows what she is dealing with. That could give us some idea of what to do," Sam said.
"Uh, Sam I'm certain she knows about the Cullens," I said quietly.
"How are you so sure Jacob?" he asked.
"I told her myself." I said
Paul and Jared started snarling at me. Paul was shaking so hard I thought he would phase right there and then. I recognized the anger.
"Jacob you fool! How could you do such a thing?" Sam asked angrily
"I had no idea that it was true Sam, I was just trying to scare her with some of our old legends. Who knew I'd be a part of that? Why didn't you guys say anything?" I asked sadly.
"Jacob, that's one of the rules. You can't say anything to anybody. Unless you imprint," Sam said.
"Imprint?" I asked.
"It's a way that the wolf can find his true mate," he said.
"Meaning?" I asked
"You know that Leah and I were together for a long time right?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, but you left her for Emily," I said.
"I didn't have a choice. Not even remotely! When I met Emily it was like everything I could see was her. She was my everything. I love her more than breathing. I would do anything for her. It's not that I didn't love Leah, I did. In a lot of ways I still do, but I need Emily. A lot can be explained when you go wolf again," Sam said.
"Um wow! So why can it be explained by going wolf?" I asked.
"There are no secrets anymore man. Everything in your mind and soul are laid bare for all to see," Jared said from across the room.
"Yes. That is why we brothers need to trust each other. More than anything else. You will know each of your brothers most embarrassing details and they will know yours," Sam added.
"Wow!" I said quietly, not sure if I was liking this whole wolf thing at all.
"Jacob, do you think you could phase back into a wolf? It will be a lot easier to figure this all out in wolf form," Sam said.
"Yeah probably. So Bella is with the Cullens huh?" I asked quietly.
"We don't really know, but we assume," Sam said, "They left town on Monday and by Friday she was gone."
"She left a message for Charlie saying that she didn't want to be a burden on him or the Cullens. She had been sick all week and then she was gone. Charlie is beside himself with worry. There is no trace of her," my dad added from the corner.
"So what do we do?" I asked.
"Let's go wolf Jacob and we'll show you," Sam said.
"Outside this time if you please. This place will be torn to shreds if you guys are inside for this," Billy added.
We made our way to the forest and my new brothers started to undress.
"Woah guys. What is this about?" I asked, shocked.
"Jacob we have to be naked when we phase or all of our clothes would be shredded in a matter of days. That's also why we usually only wear a pair of sweats or shorts. Watch Embry," Sam instructed.
Embry finished stripping, tied his shorts to his ankle with a little leather tie and phased.
"Oh I see. So where do I get one of those tie things?" I asked, "This wolf thing really sucks so far."
Sam laughed and handed me a tie. "Wait until you feel the speed and the power Jacob."
The others all waited for me, watching. I stripped off the shorts I had on and tied them to my ankle. I pulled the feeling I had before into me and before I knew what hit me, I was a wolf again.
"That was amazing Jake. You already control it. Man you rock! You're like super wolf or something!!!" Embry, the only wolf already phased, thought.
I felt the air shimmer again and three more wolves appeared.
"Crikey Jacob. You got that down pat. It took the rest of us weeks to be able to phase at will. Actually it was easier for Paul to go wolf. I just had to piss him off and BAM!!" Jared thought happily.
"It was very good Jacob. Never seen anything like it," Sam thought, "Let's run guys! Teach Jacob about the treaty line and our duties as we go."
Finally I could feel the speed. I flew through the forest at speeds I could only reach in my car on a straight flat section. I listened to my brother's thoughts and learned the ways of the wolf. I still didn't like it, completely.
This was the pattern for the next week. I could control my phasing for the most part. Not phasing when I am angry would pose more of a challenge. Once everyone was sure I knew the rules, Billy went to talk to Charlie to get more information. The story he got was that the Cullens had a family emergency and left early Monday. Bella was engaged to marry Edward Cullen. She had been sick since they left, but he thought it was just the flu. The only thing he knew was that she took a ferry to Oak Harbor. He hadn't heard anything from the Cullens, but was hoping that she met up with them. Dr. Cullen was due back at the hospital in the next few days so he was waiting for him for more answers.
It seemed he was hoping the opposite of what I hoped. I hoped she wasn't with the Cullens. I hoped she was safe.
When Sam heard that the Cullens were gone we decided to watch their house for any sign of movement. It was days before we saw anything. Finally on Jared's watch Alice and Edward Cullen had returned. They only stayed for a little while and certainly got my hopes up when they decided to look for Bella.
Charlie on the other hand, called Billy absolutely crushed. Alice Cullen had called him looking for Bella. Was it an act on their part? It didn't seem that way when I watched Alice and Edward race down the driveway in their car, obviously upset. The rest of the Cullens returned that night and I was able to hear some of their conversations. Nobody knew where Bella was, of that I was certain.
Surveillance continued on the Cullen home for the next few days. We watched as everyone left to go hunting, then again as the blonde one left too. I thought we were in for a long wait, but within two days the blonde was back in a Jeep instead of her little red car and Bella was with her. I was so stunned that Bella was there. I was almost giddy with excitement. Then she turned around.
"VAMPIRE!!" my brain screamed. I raced back to La Push to sound the alarm. Bella was a vampire and the Cullens were going to pay!!!
Sam met me at the treaty line. Jared, Paul and Embry were on their way to meet us. I updated them on what I knew. Bella and the blonde one were alone. The other Cullens were not there.
"It's a perfect time to attack. Two fewer vampires in this world!" Paul thought.
"The treaty is broken and they are separated. Paul is right. I think we should take these two down and wait for the rest," Sam added..
"I can't! She's my friend. Vampire or not I can't destroy her. This isn't her fault! She's innocent," I screamed in my head.
"Jacob, we need to do what's best for the pack. What's best for La Push and the humans. Jacob she isn't human anymore. We can't protect her. It's done," Sam said angrily
"I know it's done Sam. That doesn't mean I can see her destroyed," I said.
"What do you want from us Jacob? Shall we just ignore this obvious violation of the treaty?" Sam asked.
"No. I say we warn them off. We give them a chance to leave and never return. Get the blood suckers away from here but let them live. They still maintain a diet of animal blood not human," I said.
"What's to stop them from coming back? Why should we let them live?" Paul asked sullenly.
"They have always had that house. It has been there like a beacon to call them back. We destroy it.. Give them an hour to get out then rip the house down and burn the pieces," I said.
"That idea has a lot of merit. If the vampires will leave peacefully then it serves it's purpose. I agree," Sam said.
"As much as I would like to fight, I do not look forward to ripping apart a friend," Embry said, "I vote we run them out of town and burn the house down."
"Me too," Jared added.
"Paul?" Sam asked.
"I don't care about those leeches. I want them dead!" Paul said.
"It's four to one. We run them out of town. Let's go! I will phase back to my human form to deliver our message. You guys attack at any sign of aggression. Brothers first!" Sam yelled.
We were on our way to confront Bella and the blonde.. Their decision would spell out their own life or death. My heart hurt just thinking about it. Would I have to destroy my friend?