Chapter Twenty One
Jake
They thought I was at home doing my school work but I had followed Billy and hung around outside so I could hear what was said. I knew it was something important and I thought it might concern Charlie's attack, I was fed up with being the only one who didn't know what was going on. As I heard more and more I found it harder and harder to believe my own ears, Paul was responsible for Charlie's attack not as a man but as a wolf. That meant the legends of the spirit warriors and guardian wolves were not merely legends but true and Sam was the leader of the wolf pack which composed of Sam, Jared, and Paul at least. So the Cullens were the Cold Ones of the same legends, vampires. Bella was involved with vampires and she had no idea of the danger she was in but the tribe had a treaty with these same vampires. It must be a peace treaty meaning that the tribe was safe from the vampires although I had no idea how. I had to find a way to warn Bella without admitting that the wolves existed or letting her know that it was a Quileute who had attacked and almost killed her dad. I was just sneaking away when I felt a hand on my arm and looked up to see Jared glaring at me,
"Snooping Jake? Not a good idea especially when it's a meeting of the elders. Lets go in, you can explain what you are doing here to them in person."
There was nothing I could do but let him lead me inside where the elders had stopped speaking and waited for us. Billy was furious and laid into me straight away but Old Quil interrupted,
"Lets hear what Jake has to say before we judge him"
Quil
We listened in silence as Jake told us what Charlie had asked him and then spoke of his concern for Bella Swans safety.
"Jacob, Bella Swan is in no danger from the Cullens here. We have a treaty with his people, we will allow them to live here peacefully as long as they promise never to bite a human."
"But they're Cold Ones, vampires, they live on blood."
"Yes, but not human blood. The Cullens live on animal blood and have done whenever they come to Forks."
"This isn't their first visit then?"
"No, they are immortal, they have been here before and they kept to their vow. Now Paul has put all that in jeopardy and we have to try to make things right."
"What about me? When will I join the pack?"
"That depends on what happens. If the Cullens decide to leave then you will never need to phase, if not then it wont be long."
"If we have a wolf pack then why don't we take the Cullens out once and for all? That way they wont threaten anyone else."
I wasn't sure Jake had listened to anything we said and that worried me.
"Jacob were you not listening when I told you about the treaty? Paul has already broken it by harming a human. Not one Cullen has ever harmed a human in Forks and now they have the moral high ground too. What do you think would happen if we killed the Cullens and that isn't even a sure thing. The wolves are here to protect the tribe, they are not an army."
"So a few of their friends come along? We can take them too. We should kill the Cold Ones, they are a danger to all humans."
Billy
I shook my head, we were going to have to explain all about the Cold Ones to Jake, if he thought the Cullens were it then he was very much mistaken. Quil looked at Harry who nodded slowly,
"Jacob the Cullens are the least dangerous of their kind, they live on animal blood, they only wish to live in peace among the humans, live their own lives and soon they will be gone from our area, they only stay a few years before moving on. But the others, especially their ruling council are a very different proposition."
"They have a ruling council? Like our elders?"
"Yes in a way. The Volturi make and keep the laws of their kind but they are human hunters and if they see the Cullens destroyed by us they will wipe out the whole tribe, they have a fighting body that is more powerful and dangerous than our wolves. We cannot afford to bring their wrath down on the tribe, it would be suicide, so you see we have no choice in the matter."
"What about the other tribes? Don't they have guardians like us? Like the wolves? Why don't we join together? Form our own army?"
"You would start a war? One which would result in the death of tribes and humans as well as vampires? You have no idea how devastating such a war would be, no we keep the treaty and we hope Carlisle and his family accept that Charlie's attack was a one of. Now you know about the wolves there are certain rules you must observe. No outsiders know about the pack nor must they. You do not discuss it outside the pack, you stay away from the Cullens and you pray we have done enough to avert a war. Do you understand?"
Jake looked mutinous for a moment and Quil continued reluctantly,
"Jacob Black, you will follow these rules or the tribe, the elders, and the pack, will be forced to take action to ensure you do."
"You mean the wolves would turn on me?"
"The elders and the pack by extension will do everything needed to keep our secret."
Jake looked at Sam and Harry but could see nothing but determination in their faces and bowed his head,
"I will keep the secret."
"Good. Perhaps Sam could talk to you about the necessity for the secrecy but for now I think we have done all we can."
Jake
The legends were real and the elders talked about the leeches and the wolves as if they were common place not something extraordinary. Did they not feel the thrill of knowing that the young men of the tribe turned into supernatural beings to protect the tribe? Where was their sense of wonder? Sam walked out with me and once back at Emily's he took two sodas and sat with me on the porch looking out into the darkness as he started to talk,
"Jacob I know what you are thinking, that all you've heard is exciting, thrilling, and wonderful, but it's not, its a tragedy."
"Tragedy? How can it be when you have such powers?"
"Think about it. Imagine being a young man who suddenly finds himself in a strange animal body, a feeling of confusion and rage running through your head in equal measures. Finding yourself unable to control the phasing, becoming angry at something someone says only to find yourself standing over their bleeding body with no recollection of what you did. Perhaps even a loved one. Is that wonderful and thrilling?"
"Well no, but surely it's not as bad as that?"
"Really? And you would know this would you? Then let me ask you another question. How would you feel if you argued with Bella and found yourself minutes later standing there to find her scarred and bleeding? Scarred for life because you were angry?"
"I wouldn't do that. I couldn't do it to Bella or any girl".
"Oh yes you could, I know because I was that man."
"You were? You mean Emily? The scars on her face? You said it was a bear attack."
"Yes I did because I couldn't tell people that I did it. I phased and struck out in my anger and Emily has to live with the consequences for the rest of her life. I have to see what I did to the woman I love every time I look at her. No Jake it's a curse not a blessing and the sooner you realise that the better. For now go home and think about Quil's words."