Everything Is Different Now
Chapter 22
June 20, 2013
6 PM
The little band of travelers moved slowly, reluctantly, toward their home. Their day out had been
exciting and glorious and too much fun. They hated to see it end. The barn wasn't even in sight and
they were already slowing down, anticipating the finish of a day, together, that couldn't have been
better. This group of beings was close, you could tell. The horses were family, friends. The riders
were way beyond that. These two were lovers. It was written all over their faces and in their body
language. The love and passion between them was so thick you could see it. The waning sunlight
cast a golden glow around the troupe and illuminated the faces of the two humans. They were so in
love, the reflected sunlight was simply unnecessary to show how they felt in their hearts. It would
still glow all around them in the darkest of night.
The one thing about the group that might have caused questions to form if anyone had spotted them,
the couple was on the same horse. The big white horse glided along, not at all impeded by a second
rider on his back. The other horse, big, thick with muscles, coat that was a combination of chocolate
brown and vanilla, strolled alongside his big, white friend. His lady had chosen to finish her
ride with her mate today. That was okay, he didn't mind. As long as he got to be out and about with
his family, he was happy.
The couple on the back of the white horse had been supremely happy and preoccupied earlier in the
day. They had finally rearranged the pieces of cloth on their bodies in a close resemblance of the way
they'd been this afternoon. Snowball and Rocky had given each other a look. It was clear that their
riders weren't happy about having to put the fabric back on their bodies. The beasts didn't
blame them. The emotions that rolled off the man and woman were so rich and strong, the horses,
along with every other creature on the estate and within a 500 mile radius, were bombarded
with the sweetness of the love. It was amazing to the animals, the depth of emotion that humans
could feel. The animals had mates and family, and there were no problems. It was the way their lives
were, no more no less. With humans, they either had to work at it really hard, or be blessed by the
gods, like this pair had been.
"You 'bout ready to head home, Honey?"
"I suppose. This is awfully nice though."
"I wholeheartedly agree. You think Rocky will forgive me for stealing you off his back and making
him walk riderless behind us?"
"Possibly. At least he got exercised and he was with us."
"Yeah, and we got exercised too, didn't we?"
"We did. I've never 'done it' on horseback before. That was...different."
"I thought so. Almost made it easier having Snowball's slow gait to help us rock together, huh?"
Jacob skimmed his nose and lips down and back up Laura's neck as she snuggled in front of him.
"Yeah it did. Though I have to tell you, I love you Jacob, but I may not even be able to walk
tomorrow. You might even have to carry me back to the house from the barn tonight."
"Not a problem honey. I'll carry you anywhere you wish to go. Anytime. And by the way, I love you
too."
"You know, I never did get the story on what Barney and Phillip needed to see you about this
morning. What was going on with them?"
"Hmm, where to begin, there's been a new development with the Alpha thing."
"Such as...?"
"It appears that since I have been promoted to THE Alpha, it has some,...um...far-reaching
consequences."
"Jacob, you've got me worried now. What's going on?"
"Nothing bad honey, I promise. It's just that...um...it appears that every other shifter in the world
has 'felt' me. I mean...Barney and Phillip started getting phone calls and emails from a bunch of
other shifters that have been here, you know with your parents, before. Everyone seems to know
what I am and that I'm...'in place?' I'm not sure how to say it exactly. I started getting bombarded
with jolts of energy, shifter energy I mean, and Barney and Phillip had to help me lie down. Then
they had to help me strip so I could phase and 'talk' to everybody. They're all in my head Laura. At
least, they were, until I got a grip and got them all to quieten down. I got the messages from all over.
Thousands of shifters around the planet have felt me, recognized me and pledged their loyalty and
service to me. Any of those who haven't yet, will soon so I'm told. And the energy and strength is
flowing from all over, from them, all of them, to me. My strength is increasing. I'll be bench-pressing
Snowball before long."
Laura was quiet for some time, absorbing all Jacob had said. He began to worry about her silence.
"Baby? Are you alright? What's wrong? You understand don't you? I'm okay, I just, I'm getting
energy boosts, I'm getting stronger. That's all."
"Yes, Jacob. I'm alright. It's just really gonna take some time to digest all of this. What a steep
learning curve we both are facing, huh?"
"You could say that. But we stick together. You hold my hand and I'll be okay."
"Jacob, if you're holding my hand, I can face the world. You're right. We stick together. Be patient
with me. I'm coming to grips with all of this supernatural stuff as fast as I can. God, how I wish my
parents had told me what was going on instead of deciding I was too young to understand."
"I know honey. I'm sorry too. But I sorta see why they sheltered you. This would be an awful lot for
a little girl to process."
"Hah! Are you really telling me it would have been a lot to process? Seriously?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. It was a lot for me to process too, but at least I was a teenager. You were just a
baby."
"Baby my foot. They could have told me after I got to be a teenager."
"But they didn't honey. We can't second guess the past. We move forward from here. Together. You
can do that can't you?"
Laura thought for a few moments about what Jacob was asking. She thought about all she had
learned about Jacob and her own family in the past few months. She could only shake her head and
chuckle.
"Oh my...! I don't know what to say Jacob. And Snowball is gonna freak out if you try to pick him
up and do curls or something with him Hey I just thought of something. Does that make me the
First Lady?"
"Hah! Yeah, I guess it does. Or maybe...no...it makes you THE Alpha Female. That oughta go a long
way toward raising your credit rating huh?"
"Oh you...! Smart aleck! I don't think I even have a credit rating. I have no credit cards."
"You're kidding right? No credit cards? None? Ever?"
"Nope, none, ever. I also don't have a checking account or any other bank account that I access
myself. The accountant handles everything. Even keeps the books for the working and earning parts
of the estate. You know, stud fees for horses and dogs, and colt, filly and puppy sales and all of that
stuff. I just take care of the hands on things here on site. I'm a lot like a caretaker instead of an
owner. It's much simpler for me."
"What if you need to buy something? What if you want to go shopping?"
"I don't shop Jacob. Can't stand it."
"You're a miracle, some would say a freak of nature, and...I thought that was me. I can't believe it."
"If I want something, I sometimes 'shop' online and there's an account I use that is in no way
connected to me or my name. It's an estate account that gets maintained and paid elsewhere. I love
the simplicity of it."
"I'm having trouble getting a grip on this Laura. What if you go into town and want to
buy...something? What if you want a...candy bar?"
"Cash."
"Cash?"
"Cash."
"Okay."
"Come on. Let's finish scrubbing down our ponies and I'll show you where you should go if you want
to buy a candy bar."
"Oh no, that's yours. Not mine."
"You're kidding right? Think about it Jacob. If THE Alpha Female has a cash stash, wouldn't THE
Alpha have access to it as well?"
"That's not the same thing!"
"Why not?"
"Laura! That's not my money! It's your money!"
"Jacob, if you want to add your own money to the pile, you're more than welcome, but you'd
need to get a paying job. You are now THE Alpha. Aside from working on the various equipment
here, for which you have refused payment, and working on machines for neighbors, for which you
have refused payment, how do you propose to find time to work an actual paying job?"
"But..."
"Yes?"
"This is NOT FAIR!"
"How so?"
"It...just isn't! I won't allow you to pay my way. That's just wrong!"
"Ah ha! The truth will out. You don't want to feel like a 'kept man' do you?"
"I really wouldn't have called it that."
"Hmm, I've no doubt. But Jacob, baby, think about it. You've contributed a staggering amount of
love, support, friendship, loyalty, labor, etc. to me and everyone else here on the estate and for miles
around too. You've refused payment for ANY of the work you've done whether it was here or down
the road. Surely you don't really think that all of that is worth nothing?"
"Well,...no...not when you put it like that."
"I don't know how else to put it. Jacob, you are ANYTHING BUT a 'kept man'. Just because you
weren't born into this family, doesn't mean you're not a full-fledged member of this family. Don't
forget, I wasn't born into it either, and neither were any of the other members. We came together as
a family from all different directions. And just because you haven't been here for years doesn't mean
that you aren't entitled to the same benefits that the rest of us have. We all access the cash operating
fund, Marie, Barney, Phillip, me. You are part of us now. You are important to us. And you better
know you're a part of me and important to me. If you don't know that by now, I've failed my first
duty as your imprint."
"Okay, okay. I get it. Baby, you haven't failed any kind of imprint duty. You're the most perfect
imprint anyone ever had. I swear to you right now, I'll work on it, and I'll get a grip on this. I'm sorry
honey."
"Shush, no need for that. This is new. It may take a while. And I'm here. No matter what."
"You're a wonder."
"Yeah, you said that once before."
"It's true. But, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why is it necessary for everything to be controlled elsewhere, with no visible connections to you?
Why can't your name appear on stuff?"
"Well, the short answer is, it's simpler. The most accurate answer is, it's for my safety, and now it's
for yours as well."
"Okay, now I'm the one who's worried."
"Several years ago, there was an attempted kidnapping, unsuccessful, and ever since then I've stayed
not just under the radar, but completely off the grid. The ownership is concealed within several shell
companies. I think the only reason the Cullens were able to find you was because of me. I used my
own name when I fetched you home with me from Portland. That was a mistake and one I certainly
regret, but I can't change it now. What's done is done. We just have to be vigilant now."
"Vigilant? For what?"
"Now that the Cullens know where you are, and now that you are THE Alpha, the potential for new
threats might arise. The Volturi, for instance, would love to get their hands on you wouldn't they?"
"And now I have a new reason to worry and a deeper need to protect you than ever before. So, what
do we do? Hide? Run?"
"Absolutely not! We are safer here than anywhere else on Earth. The Cullens would never have made
it through the gate if I hadn't allowed them to come. I needed to learn their intentions. But listen to
me, now that you are the absolute Alpha, you have a worldwide population of supporters. Phillip and
Barney had an idea that this might happen. I didn't know yet. They were right. Jacob, you have an
army of hundreds of thousands of shifters ready to defend whatever you need them to protect. We
are safe here. I promise. Besides, Barney and Phillip aren't the only shifters in the area."
"This is getting bigger than I'm ready to process I think. Wait...what?"
"Barney and Phillip and now you of course, are not the only shifters in the Boulder County area. Try
not to worry so much, babe. We're not alone. You're not alone Jacob. Not anymore."
"I think I'm beginning to realize just how 'not alone' I really am. So...you're sayin' that there are
other shape shifters that live close by."
"There are. Quite a few Phillip and Barney have told me. It's a good area, with lots of remote
wilderness territory. They said that is important."
"How many?"
"Ooh, I don't know...couple hundred maybe."
"A COUPLE HUNDRED?!"
"Um...yeah?"
"All wolves?"
"Not exactly."
"Okay, what EXACTLY are they?"
"Well, the majority are wolves, but there a quite a few mountain lions, stags, eagles and bears. A few
others. Didn't Barney and Phillip tell you all this?"
"No they didn't. But in all fairness to them, I don't guess I was in any shape for absorbing any more
information. They were probably just trying to protect me and ease me into this. Not that it isn't still
blowin' my mind. But,...can we just go to your room and shut out everything else again? I think I
need to be in the cocoon alone with you."
"No."
"No?"
"No."
"Oh..., okay. I'm sorry. I'm being selfish aren't I?"
"Not at all. But we can't go to my room to be alone together. We can go to OUR room to be alone
together. You're still processing. I don't wonder that you're having issues with all the other crap."
"Hah! It just kills me when you try to curse!"
"Oh stop!"
"Hey, you know what? You never said how all your office stuff came out this morning. The calls and
whatnot. Did you get all your work done?"
"I did. And...I have a surprise for you. Unless you think it's too much right now."
"Oh no, no, no, now I'm curious. No withholding surprises. Tell me."
"I spoke to Embry Call and he and some of your La Push friends are coming for a visit."
"What?! How?!"
"Well,...oh hell...please don't get pissed off at me!"
"Tell me. Now."
"I sent them a stack of airline tickets so they could come see you anytime they wanted."
"You...what?!"
"It was sort of Marie's idea."
"You're gonna blame Marie? Really?"
"Not blame...we were in cahoots actually. It's a belated birthday present since she missed yours,
and the only thing I gave you on your birthday was a hard time."
"Honey, you gave me an imprint that saved my life on my birthday. THAT January 14th five months
ago was the best one I've ever had, hands down! I think that was more than sufficient, don't you?"
"Well, maybe, I see what you're saying, but that was as much a gift to me as it was you, and it was sort
of unintentional. We wanted to do something special for you because you've made all of us so happy.
You know, just because you've made me the happiest woman on the planet, doesn't mean you haven't
had a positive effect on other people too."
"Okay. I know I'm not gonna win an argument about this with you, or Marie for that matter. Tell me
about Embry. When's he coming and who's coming with him?"
"He'll be here at the end of the month, on the 29th and Seth and Leah will be with him. And three
more will be coming too, that's the next surprise."
"Three more? Next surprise? Who? What?"
"Paul and Rachel and Billy will be with them."
"...!"
"Easy, babe. Breathe. Jacob? You okay hon?"
"I can't believe it. I'm gonna see my Dad? And my sister?"
"In less than 10 days."
"I...I...don't know what to say."
"Well, I do. Happy birthday, my Jacob."
"Thank you honey. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Come on now, come here Jasmine, your
Mommy and I have to go find Mama Marie. Right fuckin' now!"
"I feel like I'm studying at the knee of the Curse Master. You're good. You're really good."
"Thanks Honey. And I can curse too."