Chapter 15- Moot Or Resolute?
Thank you to all who PM'd me with their thoughts or reviewed Chapter 14 of TWW! Even though it seems like I've lost some readers during my hiatus, every single reader and review means a lot. I can't stress that enough. Thank you. =) Hope you all enjoy Chapter 15! It's almost completely in Jared's POV this time. I wanted to provide a little more insight into his internal battle with everything that's just happened this time. Don't worry if you're wanting insight into some of the others' perspectives, there's much more to come!
Disclaimer: As awesome as it would be, I don't own any of these characters. They all come from the brilliant mind of Stephenie Meyer.
Summary: What happens when a wolf sees a certain girl in one's mind? Is it an imprint, or not? Will Jealously rear it's ugly head and blur the lines of friendship. Or will Understanding reign? ...And will Bella find her heart with a wolf that she never saw coming, or hush the call of Want, Love, and Trust? Rated M for violence, swearing, and lemons.
Jared POV (Phased) :
I run. I run, and I run, and I run. Until the gaping hole in my chest, from being away from my mate during the present state of things, threatens to explode into a black hole, swallowing my senses completely. I can't get the worry, the painstaking confusion of not knowing what the fuck is going on or what to do out of my head. What I do know is simple and clear, to both parts of me. What you can do, what you need to do, is protect Bella. You left her at the worst possible moment. And, just like that, I'm beating myself up inside again. I know that I shouldn't, these kinds of things are almost completely circumstantial to us among the pack, and it comes with the territory. But so does waging the internal battle on a semi-regular basis. I stop so abruptly that my paws skid in the dirt beneath me, immediately turning on my tail and sprinting back the way I came. I've got to get to her. I've got to get back to her NOW.
It's then that I hear Paul enter my head. Joining me from across border in the Phase, he tries to soothe me, as only my childhood friend could.
Man, it's alright. You did what you thought you had to do. And it's probably a good thing that you did. - (Paul)
Yeah, maybe you're ri- Fuck! No. Paul, Jacob's her best friend. It might be- She's probably worried sick. Now that I left her alone, she's gotta be worried about me too. We don't know what's going on and… damnit! Damn gods on a pipeline! What if she's in danger. That redheaded bitch vampire! What if-
Geezus, man. She's not alone. You know Embry is with her, and you marked her. Nothing. Nothing is going to happen to her. We won't let it and neither will you. - (Paul)
I still can't find it in me to agree, my instincts, driving my thoughts wild, but somewhere in the back of my head it registers that my Brother may be right. I don't agree, but I don't voice my disagreement either. This quiets him and after being filled in about the rest of the pack regrouping at Emily's with her and Sam, we run the rest of the way back to the Swan residence in silence.
As we approach I swear that I can almost feel my mate sensing the return of my presence. Without even thinking about it, I morph out of my wolf form and start to run out of the treeline behind her home. Paul approaches me and out of my peripherals, I can see him grinning like a Cheshire cat. There seems to be something I've forgotten… It's only then that I take note of the draft between my thighs. Oops. I inwardly guffaw at my own expense. Standing next to me, he let's out a breathy chuckle.
"Hang tight, Prince Charming. No need to go in there stark naked. I'll be right back."
"Yeah, I seem to keep finding myself in a naked state a lot lately." Now it's my turn to laugh at myself, and feel an almost overwhelming sense of gratitude for the brotherhood that I've found myself in. Sure, Paul and I have always been friends, but the pack has it's perks. Soon, he returns from the treeline again with a pair of cutoffs in hand. I snatch them up, almost ripping them in my haste and run in the back door. I hear little sniffles and my heart almost breaks. There's the downfall- Upside? Everything is elevated. When I enter the living room, the sight that befalls my eyes sends a growl, rumbling low, out of my chest. He's no threat, but the image of Embry comforting my Bella, arms wrapped tightly around her, bring my wolf out to play once again. I shake my head, trying to clear it of the lupine sensitivities overriding my body right now. It's almost impossible though, with everything that's happened. But, he notices me, and quickly let's go of my imprint, raising his hands in surrender, practically knocking her off of her feet. He speaks soothingly.
"Sorry, Bella…Hey, bro. I understand. No harm done here." I quash the thunder rolling inside of me. Well, we don't call him the Pack Mediator for nothing! She rushes to my side and I hoist her into my arms, burying my nose in the scent at the crook of her neck.
"Shh," she coos, "I'm safe."
Trembling slowly, all I can let out is a short "mine." Get a grip, Cameron!
"Shh. Yes, Jared. Yours." I release some of my grip on her. Letting her back down to her feet, I keep one arm around her, just as Paul bounds into the room. That signature Cheshire cat- how ironic- grin still eating up his face.
"Whoa. You've got it worse than I thought, man."
I take my free hand and smack him upside the back of the head, relieving the room of a little of the tension. "Hey, hey! At least I'm getting some." In my arms, my mate twists and protests with a giggle.
"Hey there, wolf boy! You want to keep getting some?"
I lean down to nuzzle her jaw, "Oh, of course…" We're about to get lost in our momentary reverie, when Embry whistles from across the room.
"I hate to break up the lovefest, but we have a bit of a situation on our hands, don't we?" Forget about the tenuous relief.
My childhood friend takes control of the situation again, "Right. Well, we followed Jake's scent all the way past the Canadian border. There was no real direction until we got just past it, and then it seemed to be a straight shoot. But then it just sort of disappeared. Right in the middle of a shit ton of leech stink. Fuck, it almost hurt to smell that much leech in one spot. Quil practically went kookoo."
I stay silent, just taking it all in and letting my mind focus on the feel of my imprint in my hands and the information seeping into the air around me.
"What does Sam have to say about all of this? What does he think?" Embry's brow is creased to the maximum.
"He's set on that idea. That this has to do with the Cold One who attacked Harry Clearwater."
"And what do you think?" I finally let my own voice ascend up past my lips.
"Ya know, we've been chasing her on and off for a few weeks and then Harry, and now Jacob's missing after what appears to be a leech goose chase. Ya know, we've all been chasing her for a few weeks now and she keeps comin' back. I don't know what that crazy redhead wants, but she's obviously up to something. Why else would she keep comin' back? It's all too coincidental."
From the place that he's taken on the other side of me, Embry exhales a low "Hmm" in agreement. Bella begins to tremble in my arms.
"Victoria..No, no…No."
Stroking the side of her face, I try to calm her fears. "Who? Sweetie, " stern concern weaves it's way into my tone, "what are you talking about?"
"She.. She tried to come after me when I jumped off of th-" the rumbling in my chest at the thought of her endangering herself causes her to change her choice of words, " when I did my experiment. She came with Laurent and her mate, James, but when he tried to kill me, Ed- Edward- came after me and the Cullens killed him. She wants to kill me. To kill Edward's mate as.. As.." I don't contain it this time, the growl ripping up my throat and out into the air, "as revenge." She practically whispers the last word, too low for any but our supernatural ears to hear.
"But he's NOT your mate. You're mine! My mate!"
Paul rests a hand on my shoulder blade, "C'mon, Jar. We all know that."
Bella's voice is raspy with acute terror, just under that strong surface, as she speaks again. "Yes. But she doesn't know that. I doubt she'll believe it. She'll- she'll think it's a ploy to fool her."
My grip on her tightens. "Well, then we'll just have to hunt her down and make her believe it. Right before we tear her to pieces." She sniffles. "Shh, " I nuzzle her jaw softly once more, "Bella.. Don't cry. It'll be okay."
"I- I'm not even worried about me. I'm scared- for you, for Jake. No matter how much of an ass he's being, he's still my best friend. And, you…" she gazes up, lost in my dark orbs, "if it's me she wants, if this really has to do with me…" I nudge her, nose to nose, encouraging her to go on. I know that she needs to let it out, as much as we all do, right now. She bites her lower lip, letting her nervousness show on full display, "If it does..then I'm going to give myself over to Victoria."
Instantaneously, all three of us bellow out "NO!" I can't help the anger, the hurt, the worry, and even the admiration at such as selfless, and yet selfish act that wells up within me. It weaves around my membrane, down to that place in my chest and pumps with the rapid beat of my heart, curls around my tongue, and spits out my mouth like wildfire. I fight the urge to grip her past what her fragile body could handle, and to push away from her all at the same time.
"What?! Bella, how can you say that?! Do you know what you'd be doing to me? To us?!"
"Yes!" She jumps out of my arms and I almost break with the wrenching pain of it. "I do! But isn't it worth it if it means your life and the life of the pack? My own little life doesn't mean as much. It can't. I wish that wouldn't be the answer, but… It's not fair."
I stare at her, chest heaving, and I wonder if she can sense the breaking in my heart. At her admittance of wanting to do such a thing, it's as if she's denying the imprint in a sense. I know that she can't. We've claimed her, marked her as ours, but my wolf is bound and determined to make me remember our supernatural sensitivities.
"No, you're right. It's not! But do you really realize what you'd be doing? Bella, by giving yourself. By killing yourself, you wouldn't be helping me. Helping the pack. Or helping Jacob. I couldn't go on, it'd be as though a part of me- a big part- died. It would hurt the pack, who knows, maybe hurt a part of it that could never be repaired! Please," I fall to my knees in front of her and wrap my arms around her waist, face buried against her while she clings onto me, "please, don't even think about it. Not again. Please. We just found you. We can't lose you."
We stay like that, no one moving or speaking for who knows how long. Could be moments, could be an hour, who cares. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, she trembles, running her fingers through my hair and urging my face up to look at her. In a barely audible whisper, she comforts me. "Okay, Jared. Okay."
Em is the next to make a move, going to lean against the back of the couch and crossing his ankles and arms. "Alright. Now what do we do? Sam have any particular orders at the moment?"
I stand up, but still cling to Bella, as I regard Paul with curious eyes. "He wants us all to meet over at Emily's, then I'll take over patrols again with Leah. Geez, Leah," he comically rolls his eyes. Finally, a little break in the rigidity that's filled the room again.
"Well, we better get over there then," I turn my gaze towards Bella again. "You game for riding on my back, Honeybunches-of-Oats?" She nods. There. That's what I want to see. You're too beautiful not to keep that face bright. I could swear to holy nutcracker that Paul can sense my thoughts because he lets out a hardy chuckle, deep from his gut, rolls his eyes, and with the shift of his head, motions for us all to exit.
As we pass, Bella regards him with a small smile, while I, on the other hand throw out a line that I've had to use one too many times with my Brother.
"Oh, don't give me that."
Seth POV:
Gee. Joining the one-cub club of the Official Security-But-Really-Officially Babysat can be kind of boring. And nerve-racking. Don't get me wrong, I love Emily like a big sister, not just a cousin. Even more so now, even after everything with Sam and Leah. I get it now. But knowing that I'm just sitting here, not knowing what's going on, unable to phase, and playing the waiting game, well… It kind of, really sucks. The minutes tick by. Hours. Then finally, Sam practically storms in, followed by a nervous looking Quil and an annoyed looking Leah. "Seth." My Alpha throws a quick nod my way while making his way over to Emily, enveloping her in his arms and kissing her softly, "Everything good here?"
"Yep. Fit as fiddle!… Where's Paul? Embry? I'm not even gonna ask where Jared is." Quil, however jumpy, pipes in before Sam can answer.
"Chyeah! Between her legs!" Sam smacks him upside the head. "Ow! What was that for?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Ateara." I love hearing him laugh. It's not often that our Alpha gets to take comfort in the lighthearted things of life, so it seems. I smile inwardly. "Embry went to Bella's to warn them, when we left. Paul, after we chased the trail."
"Wait. What trail? You found Jacob didn't you?" And I almost feel guilty, taking in the first assessment that my pack brother and would-be alpha is missing, How could I not have noticed? Before I can realize it, and put the happiness back on my face, the worry must show through my eyes, because my sister crosses the room to me, stopping just short of where I sit on the couch.
"Don't fret, baby bro, we'll find him." She touches my arm gently, soothingly. Only she's ever really seen me let my guard down. Her, and of course our mom, and until recently my dad. Sure, I'm a sunny soul. But this… This is so messed up. The beyond-all-fucked-up kinda fucked up. "What's going on?"
Quil fills me in, after the fragment of a questioning look that he throws at our Alpha is met with approval.
I stand, and begin to pace slowly back and forth across the room, before coming to an abrupt stop right in the center of it. "So, you're saying that you think Cold Ones took him? The vampires? A group or something?"
Sam's powerful base sweeps over the room, but consolingly. "Yes. I think so. The scent was way too powerful and all over the end of the trail to be just one. Why? That's what I'm still trying to figure out."
Leah's eyes find mine again. "We think it has something to do with the one who attacked.. Who attacked dad." My gaze falters to the floor, filling with glimpses of sadness and worry, before being replaced with a pure form of rage. Never thought I'd let out my grieving process here, above all places. When I lift my gaze, it must surprise everyone to see me in such a state, because they all shift their stances, however minuscule their movements.
Sam steps over to my side, laying a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Hey. Seth. We'll find him. And we'll tear that bitch a new one. The rest of 'em too, whoever they are."
I return his gaze, steadiness washing over me slowly again. "What's our next move?"
"Patrols tonight, keep a lookout. Talk to Billy. I'll meet with the council tomorrow. They may possibly want to talk to Jared, given that we're still trying to figure out this 'brother marking.'"
And, as if on cue, he strides in, hand in hand with Bella. Paul and Embry, in tow. His sight lands on me first, and he must see something buried there, for he regards me first. Funny. I've never really talked to Jared all that much until joining the pack. "You okay there, baby bro?"
"Yeah, I'm alright. Just a little- "
"Shaken up, right?" The corner of his mouth lifts into a knowing smirk. Chuckling, I thank him in my mind for the display of amity. "Yeah. You got it."
"And that's shaken, not stirred!" Damnit, Quil! The room erupts in chortles, giggles, and huffs. It seems like the room itself is rolling it's eyes. Well, if it had eyeballs.
Sam picks up where we left off. "Alright, alright. We have matters to discuss. This is serious business. We're all gonna keep our cool, yes?" Everyone, including myself, seems to nod on instinct at his timbre of his alpha voice.
"Bella, I have some questions for you."
Bella's POV:
Oh, god. Oh, god, oh god, oh god. At Sam's addressing of me, my mind is reeling at a thousand megawatts per second, but my body, in contrast, feels almost eerily calm. It's like now, connected with Jared, that I just know that it's safe. That there's understanding here, nothing to be worried about. But my all-too human mind is still going back and forth at the moment. Maybe it's because he's alpha? I swallow my irrational trepidation and reply with a shy but sure "Yes? How can I help, Sam?" Jared gives my hand an encouraging squeeze
"Jacob had mentioned before that this redhead-"
"Victoria…"
Eyes shift around me in contemplation. "You know her?"
Before I can help it, I'm a sputtering mess of gobbledygook. "No. Yes? I mean, kind of. Well, I…" I can't help it. I pull my bottom lip between my teeth. To my surprise, Leah takes a gentle stance next to me, touching my shoulder with feather-light fingertips, as Jared nuzzles my neck and moves his arm to encircle my waist. Touch is definitely important amongst wolves. I want to huff nervously inside, but even I find the gesture almost instantly soothing. Stilling my movements from foot to foot, I repeat my story to Sam and the rest of the unknowing ears around me.
Emily releases a breath that I don't think she even knew she was holding. "So, you're saying that she's after you?" Sam wraps an arm around her waist.
"Yes. I think so." My mate's chest rumbles next to me, while his fingers slightly lift up the end of my shirt, searching for and caressing the newly revealed skin.
"But, why Jacob?"
"I don't know, Edward said something once about her gift of evasion. Maybe she's been watching me, but you never knew. Maybe no one ever knew."
Sam's bass moves over us, "It's possible. I'd hate to admit it, but if this is true. Maybe she's using him to draw you out." My breath catches in my chest. Jacob…
Embry speaks up next. "So, what do we do now?"
"Run patrols. Paul and Leah, you're on tonight." I almost burst out laughing at the annoyed looks from both parties. Apparently that's a love-hate, thing?
"No, now. I mean, what do we do about this?"
"Keep a look out. Jared?" My wolf-man looks Sam hard in the face, and submissively bears his neck to him. "Tomorrow we go to the Council. We gotta talk to the Elders about that mark of yours. And maybe, just maybe, we'll get some more answers. Embry?"
"Yeah, Ye Old Papa Wolf?" Paul throws a playful punch at Em's shoulder. Wonder what that's all about. I shake off my inner ramblings to focus on the scene before me, but it's hard with Jared's finger tantalizingly scorching the flesh of my hip with lazy circles.
"Yeah, yeah. Try and see if you can pick up any traces of the scent- Jake's. Theirs- anywhere else around here. Don't go past the border alone. I mean it. If you find, or don't find anything, come back here in two hours. Get some rest. I'll switch off with Paul and Leah later." Seth clears his throat.
"And what am I supposed to do? C'mon, dude, I'm dyin' here."
"You can take over patrolling with me when they come back." He groans. "Finnne. At least it's something." And there's that signature Seth smile again. Thatta boy, Sethy.
Jared inquires about our whereabouts directly to Sam, and Sam only. The quiver of hope is evident in his voice that he won't have to be torn from me again yet. Whether that's for his sake, mine or for both of us.
"And…?"
"Why don't you two stay here tonight? Might be safer. If this vampire really is after Bella."
"What about my place? I mean, it's not far from here." There's a knowing hint to Sam's smile, and I wouldn't be one hundred percent positive if I didn't say that this might be only of the only times that I've seen the man do so.
He huffs an exhale, hand at the back of his neck. "Alright, Cameron. But be back here in the morning."
After everyone finishes their handshakes, their hugs, their silly fist bumps, and I take another mental note of just how important touch really is to the pack dynamic, Jared carries me out among the trees again. Before I know it, I'm atop his light brown pelt for the second time tonight. It amazes me how fast, yet how lithe and aware he is. The moment I start to bounce in one direction, a little too far, he readjusts. And deep inside, a little voice knows that I'll never fall with him around, in one way or another.
After as short time, we arrive behind a little, somewhat ramshackle, but quaint house. He lets me down. Before he phases back, I turn to him. "Is this where you live?" His lupine eyes show understanding. He rubs his giant head into my side, nuzzling me affectionately. In some other life, in some other realm, it might seem rather odd hugging a giant wolf's head. But here it just feels safe, like the warm afterglow of the sun. He steps back a couple of feet and phases. He's been inside you! Silly girl, stop it. Stop BLUSHING. But I can't contain the rosy hue that seems to take over my body, nor the warmth that spreads between my thighs with the way he's looking at me. Possessive. Loving. Searching. And hungry. Above all else, hungry.
I don't have another moment to collect my wits before he wisps me inside and the next think I know, he's got me pinned between his warm body and the wall at my back. The hallway is dark but from the window, the moonlight shining off of his face shows me the flicker of yellow behind his black pupils. He sniffs the air and I know that he can smell me. It should normally embarrass me, but all it does now is drive on the wetness at the apex of my thighs, becoming almost uncomfortable and I feel every fiber of me yearning for him. For his comfort. His solace. His touch. Mine! I shiver with the force of my thoughts. Every inch of his body is pressed against mine, assessing the tiny quivers rolling off of my body, running the tip of his nose along my cheek and the length of my throat. He reaches a hand between us, ripping my top and bra away, revealing his mark. His hot breath against it makes my knees almost give in. But he's there, strong and sturdy against me.
Bringing his face back in front of my own, he kisses me forcefully. Deep and languidly, and I moan into his mouth. It's almost too much, but I'd never refuse him. My body, rigid with anticipation as already made up it's mind, and I know that he senses this through our bond. But I can feel him holding back, if only ever so little; Himself, sensing the tinge of trepidation at the newness to this side of his abrupt sexuality. Pulling back slightly, Jared, my Jared, breathes out, hot and wantonly over my lips; Eyes, searching again. Pleading with me to not be afraid. I know that he needs this, that he's been holding back..
"Please, Bella…" He rubs his nose against mine, gaze never leaving mine. "I have to…"
The bare register of a nod comes from me and then we're in his room, my back now against the door and arms above my head. The attire of my bottom half seems to have disappeared in an instant. His breath trembles against the side of my neck, where he kisses me.
"Don't ever leave me…"
DAT DA DA DAHHHH! There you have it, one lengthy (and hopefully enjoyable) chapter 15. Thank you to all of my readers! I'll be updating with Chapter 16 soon. In the meantime, please review and tell me your thoughts, good or bad, that you have for this chapter- or story so far in general. Are there any questions that you have, or favored lines in the story thus far? I'm very interested to hear your thoughts. It means so much! Stay tuned. =)
Chapter 15 Playlist:
1. "History" - Funeral For A Friend
2. "Beast of Man" -Arch Enemy
3. "Lost" -Anouk
4. "Anna Sun"-(Walk The Moon cover) Joey Graceffa
5. "Splinter" -The Exies
6. "Don't Wanna Let You Go" -Quiet Riot
7. "Our Love Is Here To Stay"-Nat King Cole
8. "Paper Planes" -M.I.A.
9. "Say Something" -A Great Big World
10. "The Rain" -The Beatles
11. "Moon Song" -Anthony Green
12. "Hold On" -Nervo
13. "Closer" -Tegan and Sara
14. "Devil May Cry" -The Weekend
15. "Little Black Submarines" -The Black Keys
16. "Gold on the Ceiling" -The Black Keys
17. "Something" -The Beatles
18. "Nicotine" -Panic! At The Disco
19. "Far Too Young To Die" -Panic! At The Disco
20. "Black Magic" -The Mumblers
21. "Field Below" -Regina Spektor
22. "The Wolf" -Phildel
23. "Never Leavin' You (For Good)" -The Mumblers
24. "What the Water Gave Me" -Florence + The Machine
25. "Comfort Me" -Phildel