Chapter Twenty Nine
Charlie
I was both proud and worried that Caden had gotten away from his captives long enough to find me and tell me he and Charity were fine. I was relieved they were being well treated although he didn't seem able to tell me why they has been kidnapped or at least he wasn't willing to speak about it yet. I needed to get out of this damn cellar and contact Bella and Jasper, they must be frantic with worry along with Emmett and Rose. I wanted to confront Billy, how could he betray me so completely as to drug me and steal the children left in my care? I would arrest him for that when I got back, if I got back that was. I had no idea why I was a prisoner here or what they would do with me but Caden had told me that the people here were going to move him and Charity to new homes soon and that I was in danger.
If they left here I would never be able to find them again, hell I didn't even know where the hell I was although Caden thought it was Denali but that meant Canada and how the hell had they got us all across the border unseen? It must be Sam and his group of young men. I had always eyed them with slight suspicion although they never did anything wrong that I could see. Little Caden had told me of his plan to get me out and go to a friends of the Cullens for help but I doubted he could do that. He might be able to free himself and run although he was too young to be out in the wilds of Canada alone, let alone with little Charity. No, it was up to me to get out of here. I would talk to the woman Annie if she came to visit again. So far I had been fed by one of the huge young men who seemed to populate this place.
Sam
I told the pack to be ready for a meeting upon my return and promised to announce my choice of new Beta but now I was on my way to see Emily and I was not looking forward to the encounter one little bit. She was going to be livid with me for involving her in something illegal, for kidnapping Charlie and the children, and for dumping her, without explanation in the hunting lodge. As I approached the door I could see a curl of smoke from the chimney hanging in the air like a dark cloud which made me feel even worse and then the door opened, she had been watching for my arrival and I wondered for how long?
I tried a smile but her eyes were blazing and her fists clenched as she approached.
"So, you decided to come and see me at last Sam? I hope you've good a really good explanation for what's going on."
"I do, but let's get inside it's much too cold for you out here."
She turned on her heel and marched back inside the lodge leaving the door open for me and when I entered she was sitting bolt upright on a chair at the small dining table. I had hoped she might sit by the fire which would show she wasn't as tense as she appeared but... it seemed she was!
I took the chair opposite and looked at her then reached out tentatively to clasp her hand but she pulled it away glaring at me and waiting for some kind of answer.
"I am so sorry Emily, you should never have been involved in this but..."
"And what exactly is "this"?"
I took a deep breath,
"We decided it would be safer and far better for the children to be brought up by humans, after all the little girl is entirely human and the boy only half leech."
"Safer and better for who Sam? You stole the Cullen children from Charlie's house and when he came looking for them Jared knocked him unconscious and carried him to me. He tied Chief Swan up, gagged and blindfolded him, and then drugged him and you sent word asking me to drive him to Canada. I was fool enough to do it so you owe me a proper explanation. You do know that Charlie will be missed? That the police are going to be tearing the country apart to find one of their own? What do you intend doing with him? You can't hold him a prisoner indefinitely."
I waited to make sure she had finished speaking before I answered her,
"Charlie can go home once the children are safe. He has no idea who kidnapped him only that he was captured before he reached the village. He's only seen the Denali's since he woke up so no one he would recognize."
"You seem to forget he knows it was Billy who drugged him, so Billy will be arrested. He might not tell the authorities anything but Charlie certainly will and there's the little matter of a war with the Cullens. You broke the treaty Sam, you stole their children and don't give me any crap about the little girl not being theirs, as far as they are concerned she is and they will know the pack was responsible. They might be destroying the village or torturing the elders to get information right this minute. Don't you care about that?"
"Then they'll be out of luck because Billy and Harry are the only ones who know anything and even they don't know where we are."
"Until Jared hears your thoughts."
I hesitated but decided she would find out sooner or later anyway and it would be better coming from me.
"He won't. Jared is dead, he was killed by a strange leech, I saw it happen."
She was shocked, her mouth opened into a large O then she nodded,
"So, it's already begun."
"No, I don't think it had anything to do with the Cullens, it was a coincidence."
"Well it won't be when they put two and two together Sam. We're all dead, me too as an accomplice."
I got up and went round to her putting my arms around her shoulders to comfort her,
"No Emily, you didn't do anything, you had no idea and I would never allow any harm to come to you."
She shrugged me off laughing bitterly, the scar on the side of her face showing up livid against her pale shocked face.
"Oh really? I had Charlie in the trunk of my car for hours Sam, I am involved. I want my phone and my car, I'm leaving."
I shook my head sadly, this wasn't going as well as I had hoped,
"I'm sorry Emily but it's not safe in Forks. Not until I can send the pack back with you. I promise you can go home soon but I need to hold a meeting and ensure our friends have everything in hand. Then I can go home with you and it will be as if we never left."
"If you think that then you are a bigger fool than I thought. When I go back it will be to pack my things and move out. I won't live with a man who steals children and treats a friend the way you have. Leah can have you, I think you two are far better matched than you and I."
She got up and strode to the door wrenching it open to see the snow falling once more.
"Go back to your precious pack, I don't want to see you again. One of the others can bring my car and phone then run back to join you. I want nothing more to do with you or the pack."
"If only you give me a chance to explain properly, I had no choice, I had to act."
"Wrong, you chose to act Sam, no one forced you to and when the Cullens catch up with you I doubt they will feel any different, now get the hell out of my sight."
"You're my wife, my mate, you must see I did what I thought was right."
"Sam, you aren't God. It's not for you to make such decisions. I saw those children in town, they were healthy and happy, well cared for even if I didn't like their caregivers and the boy is The Major's son. But of course, that meant nothing to you. I think you've lost your mind and I am astounded Johnny H would back you up."
"Well, he hasn't exactly, his deputy has. Johnny H isn't there at the moment."
She smiled then, a vindictive smile I never thought to see on my wife's face,
Then perhaps you are in for more than just a world of pain and I would love to see you get your just punishment for leading your pack and me into this mess."
As I left, unable to kiss her goodbye as she turned her head away, I heard the door slam with a finality that told me I was unlikely to ever find favor with Emily again. The only thing that consoled me was the knowledge that I was right to have taken the actions I did.