Chapter 3
The next several days Jake was able to find a routine. Each night he was able to sleep in his own bed, wake up, and have breakfast with Billy before he headed to the woods to meet up with whoever was on duty. Most often it was Sam because Jared, Paul, and Embry had gone back to school.
Jake still didn't like Sam, but he couldn't help but feel sympathy for Sam going through this transition completely alone. It had to be torture for Sam to think that he would be a wolf for the rest of his life until the Council discovered what had happened and found him in the woods.
Jake had been doing really well, and he had not once phased out of his control. It had been just over a week since his first phase and Sam was simply amazed by his progress. It was a strange mixture of pride that Jake was able to do it so well and feeling even more of a freak.
Was being a "better" werewolf than the rest of them really something to be proud of?
At least he had Embry, which made the whole werewolf ordeal almost bearable. They were together constantly. Jake grabbed four hot dog wieners and put them in the microwave while Embry toasted some sandwich bread. He wrapped the bread around the wieners and Jake added ketchup to his and Embry added mustard to his.
"Thanks, Jake, I was starving." Embry smiled and began to eat.
"I was too. I need to figure out a way to keep the house as stocked as Emily keeps her's. I was just there for a day, but I think I ate about a week's worth of food and barely put a dent in the pantry."
"I know, she's amazing," Embry complimented and ate both of his and relaxed on the couch..
"Agreed." Jake had finished one and was amazed at how quickly Embry could eat. As he took his first bite of his second, they heard a loud howl from Sam.
Jake instantly learned why wolves eat so fast, and decided he could eat on the run cramming the whole hot dog into his mouth as they bolted out the door. In an instant they were both in the woods running on four legs.
What's going on? Embry and Jake yelled together.
Leeches, two of them. Sam responded.
It was Jake's first taste of action and he felt pumped. He heard Jared, running next to Sam and then Paul joined in as well. Soon all five of them were together. They couldn't see the leeches, but they could smell them. The sick sweet smell burned his nose and every instinct in his body wanted to attack.
Sam had the lead and Paul and Jared were on either side of him while Embry and Jake trailed behind Paul. They followed in each other's footsteps to mask the size of the pack.
As they followed the scent, it seemed that the leeches would be together, then separate and come back together only to separate again. Sam hated to divide his pack, but it was the only option.
Sam and Jake followed her as they tracked the female and the others tracked the male. Jake knew that he would never understand the thought process of any bloodsucker, but these two seemed to make no sense at all.
They had split up again, then the female scent disappeared. Sam explained that she must have climbed up into the trees and would leap from branch to branch. They were almost impossible to trace up in the trees because the wind would blow their scent around, and it was harder to determine which direction they were going.
The male headed towards Forks. They knew that these were a lethal pair and felt that the town was in greater danger than the off chance she found some random person in the woods.
Sam and Jake were still several miles behind when the rest of the pack caught up to the male leech. He had dark olive skin and black hair, standing in a brown and wilted meadow. He was repulsive to Jake and he couldn't understand why they didn't just attack immediately.
He's not alone, said Jared.
Jake looked through Jared's eyes and saw Bella. She seemed to be talking to the leech as he circled around closer to her.
It looks like the leech lover has found her a new toy, mocked Paul.
Jake felt the growl deep in his chest and flashed his teeth, wishing that he was closer to take a bite out of Paul.
Cut it out guys, now is not the time, Sam ordered.
Shouldn't we be protecting her Sam? Jake asked.
Sam, I heard him mention the Cullens, Embry added.
Jake felt another growl deep in his chest.
Cut it out, Jacob, Sam said, getting irritated. We can't attack, if he is with the Cullens. We are on their territory.
But him and that tick have already broken the treaty, Jake replied.
Yes, but we can't prove that it was them. We have not actually seen them kill anyone, Sam countered.
That is a load of crap. Are you saying that he has to bite Bella before we can do anything? Jake asked.
Maybe.
Jake knew better than to growl at Sam, but everything in him wanted to. As the wolves spoke to one another, the leech continued to circle around Bella. Jake saw the fear in her eyes and he decided to start paying attention to what they were saying to each other.
"Then why not wait for her?" Bella choked out.
The leech grinned mischievously and Jake wanted to rip his head off. "Well, you've caught me at a bad time, Bella. I didn't come to this place on Victoria's mission—I was hunting. I'm quite thirsty, and you do smell . . . simply mouth-watering."
Come on Sam! That has got to be enough of a threat, Jake yelled. If something happens to her, I will never forgive you.
Everyone knew that this was a battle between Sam and Jake, and did the best they could do keep their thoughts to themselves, but Jake could feel Embry's concern for Bella, and he felt Paul's impatience wanting to kill the leech, not really caring about Bella at all. Jared was silently waiting for Sam.
Ok, we're going in, Sam said and Jake released the breath he had been holding. But you all wait for my command, and not a second before. You got that Jacob?
Yes. Jake answered, trying not to be offended that he was singled out. He was so relieved that Jake would have agreed to anything as long as it was not retreating and letting Bella become another victim. That he wouldn't have agreed to and would've challenged Sam on the spot.
The leech was too close to Bella so they could not just pounce and attack, they needed to separate him from her.
I'm going out first, alone. If he tries to attack me, then that will give him enough distance from Bella so you all come from behind and get him.
They all nodded in agreement as Sam stepped forward with a low growl escaping from his chest as he entered the meadow.
They saw the leech's head turn in Sam's direction and together all crouched down ready to strike. Bella opened her eyes and kept them glued in front of her as the bloodsucker backed slowly away from her. Bella's eyes focused in on Sam and she stayed completely still while the leech inched himself closer and closer to the nearby trees.
Sam? Jared questioned.
Come, slowly, Sam replied.
Paul and Jared flanked Sam. Paul only concentrated on the leech, not taking his eyes off him. Jake approached so fully focused on the leech in front of him that he did not even realize that he had come so close to Bella.
She instantly gasped and jumped back, drawing Jake's attention to her. Her scent was so strong and he took a moment to let it fill his senses. It was such a welcome relief from the horrible smell of leech that also filtered through the air. Jake saw her fear, and it felt ironic that she feared them more than the leech that was about to take her life.
Figures, mumbled Paul.
Jacob, focus! Sam commanded, as a low growl escaped from his mouth.
Sorry, I'm here, Jake said, giving the tick his full attention. The fear on the bloodsucker's face brought him joy, and he wanted to destroy him.
The leech bolted towards the trees and they were after him in seconds, with Sam leading the way. They were going their full speed, something Jake had never done before. The trees whizzed by his head as the muscles in his body propelled him faster and faster.
Jake saw the bloodsucker not far ahead, and he found that the pack was much faster than him. Sam lunged forward to grab the leech by the right shoulder. Paul went for his head and missed receiving a kick in the shoulder from the leech, taking out a couple trees in his fall.
Dammit, Paul growled and his pain enraged them all.
Embry latched onto the left leg of the leech with his teeth and ripped it off with a satisfying crack. The leech rolled to the ground screaming in pain and Jake stood with his legs on his chest, using his full weight to his advantage and pinned him to the ground, while Sam tore his head from his shoulders. At the same time Jake dismembered his other leg and arms, all within a matter of minutes. The venom from his sockets burned his throat, but was not poisonous, unlike his mouth which could kill them.
Once they started to dismember the leech, Jared phased to human and gathered sticks and leaves together to burn him. It didn't have to be big because the venom was extremely flammable. Sam also phased and quickly pulled his shorts on and took a lighter out of his pants pocket and ignited the small timber.
"Good teamwork everyone," exclaimed Sam. "What a rush!"
"That was freaking awesome!" Jared called out in amazement.
Embry and Jake phased back to human and started gathering vampire pieces and adding them to the fire.
"Hell yeah it was!" Embry added.
While Paul was still a wolf he came over near the fire and dug a deep hole with his large paws, so that they would be able to bury the ashes once they were finished. Then Paul phased back and joined in the burning. After some of the adrenaline wore off, Jake noticed the repulsive smell and dark, disgusting smoke as the fire grew with each new piece they added.
"Hey guys, once we are finished here, let's cover the usual patrols to double check for the red head, and then I want everyone at my house for a bonfire tonight. You all earned it!" Sam said with admiration for a job well done.
"Damn right we did!" Paul cheered.
"Sounds great, thanks Sam," responded Jared.
They picked up their pace, excited about the bonfire tonight and soon they were finished with patrols. Despite Jake's best efforts, he couldn't get Bella's frightened face out of his mind.
His gut told him someone should be protecting her. It was clear that she had some type of association with the vampire, and that scared him to death that the red head might think that Bella was somehow involved and seek her revenge on Bella.
By the time they gathered at Sam's, it was dark. Behind Sam and Emily's house sat a huge round pit that they built a large fire in. The giant flames consumed the dry timber.
"Hey Sam," Jake called, getting his attention.
"Yes, Jacob."
"I was wondering about Bella. I think that someone should be protecting her."
"Why? We got the leech that she was with."
"It can't be completely a coincidence that she was with him."
"Jacob, I know you don't want to hear this, but that is the consequences of her being friendly with the Cullens."
"What? Are you saying she asked for it?" Jake asked, his voice low and angry.
"Not exactly, and it doesn't matter. We will protect Bella just the same as any other human, but at this time, I do not see any reason for her to have specific protection."
Jake wanted to say more, but then Emily brought out a massive amount of sliced potatoes, carrots, onions and hamburger meat. He knew that Sam would have a different opinion if it were his precious Emily who was the potential target.
They each grabbed a large sheet of tin foil and loaded it with all the ingredients and then rolled the corners of the foil to seal it inside. They placed a massive grate over the fire and placed their food over the flames to cook. As soon as they placed their food down, then they started building their second round in an equally large sheet of tin foil. They each had their own 2 liter bottle of soda and relaxed by the fire, reliving the big moment of killing their first leech.
As the guys celebrated, Jake looked around. It didn't take him long to notice Emily sitting close to the fire with a notepad in her hand.
Emily caught his eye and smiled.
Jake looked away with heat creeping across his cheeks. Jeez, why am I blushing? This is ridiculous.
Jake tried to distract himself by talking to Embry, but he kept hearing page after page of Emily's notebook flip and became more curious. When Embry went to get his food, Jake leaned closer to get a better look. "What are you doing?" he asked Emily
"I'm writing down the stories," she answered.
"What for?" Jake wondered out-loud.
"For the next generation."
"It was one leech, do you really think that they will care?"
"I don't know and I don't think that is for me to determine. Do you think that the Third Wife knew what she was doing was heroic the day she killed herself for her tribe?"
"Probably. That seemed like a much more significant task than a five minute vampire kill."
"You might have a valid point."
Jake saw her watching him and he could see something in her eyes that indicated that she wanted to say more. "What is it?" he asked.
"I'm surprised. I would think you, of all people, would think saving Bella's life is worth documenting."
"You are right. It is."
As the excitement built around Jake, his anxiety about Bella wouldn't settle. He had to choke down both portions of food, despite it tasting delicious. Jake knew that if he left a crumb, it would draw attention to his gloomy mood, and he was trying to avoid the limelight.
"Do you think Bella would know anything about the red head?" Embry asked.
Jake frowned and didn't like involving Bella any more than she already was.
"That girl is a freak." Paul mumbled.
Jake felt a low growl rumble from his chest.
"Come on Jake, she purposefully hung out with vampires," Embry paused, "that should qualify as at least a little strange."
"It must have sucked to know that she was so torn up over a bunch of leeches," Jared stated while shaking his head.
The rumble in Jake's chest started to vibrate and he could feel himself start to tremble. He backed up from the group and edged back towards the trees.
"Jacob, I'm sorry," Jared said, his eyes looking down.
"Just leave me alone guys."
"Do you want me to come?" Embry asked as he started to stand up.
"No, just let me be," Jake said, as he paced slowly back and forth.
Jared was certainly right, it did suck to know that Bella had fallen to pieces over a bunch of bloodsuckers and especially over Edward. Jake always knew that he was competing romantically against the memory of Edward Cullen, but he thought it was just the memory of his pretty face and loads of cash. That was hard enough to rival with, but then to find out that he had been competing against a vampire this whole time, Jake had never been more angry and repulsed all at the same time.
"Jake," Emily said softly.
Jake had been pacing and so lost in his own thoughts that he would have walked right into her had she not said anything. Therefore when he finally came to a halt, his body was merely inches away from hers.
"I'm sorry, what?" Jake looked at her intently, wondering what she wanted.
"Emily!" Sam called at the same time.
"It's nothing, never mind," she quickly turned from Jake, her shoulder brushing against his as she looked to Sam.
Jake simply stood there looking between Emily and Sam in bewilderment about what he had missed.
Patience readers, getting Jacob with Emily isn't exactly easy to do realistically, but it will come ;) Thank you for reading, please review, and check out my website at JJLiniger dot com.
