Chapter Twenty Seven
Jake
So Bella wasn't coming to the party after all, instead she had a date, and with one of the Cullens at that. Why didn't the elders say something? Warn Charlie of the danger Bella was putting herself in. If he, or even she, knew what they were I was convinced she wouldn't go anywhere near Jasper Hale. Sam and the elders had all told me to leave things lie but I couldn't, I was very fond of Bella and Charlie was a friend to all of us. How would he feel if he found his daughters lifeless body in the woods drained of all its blood? I went to find Sam who was at Emily's and asked to speak to him privately. Emily watched uneasily as we walked away from the cabin her scarred face a mute testament to the danger of associating with the wolves.
"So Jacob what did you want?"
"Bella is going out with Jasper Hale."
"Really, I assume that means she won't be at the party then?"
"How can you be so cool about it? Charlie is our friend and his daughter is going out with a vampire. You should be stopping her."
"Jacob, he isn't a danger to her."
"You can't guarantee that Sam, no one can. She needs to know what they are."
"Jacob, a vampire saved Bella in the woods years ago from a bear attack, she is in no danger from them."
"It was one of them that gave her the tooth?"
"Yes".
I stopped to think about this for a second
"That doesn't mean she's safe from them. If the wolves can lose control then so can the vampires."
"It's not our problem Jacob now let it lie."
"No I can't."
"Yes you will Jake because if you attempt to see Bella or Charlie and tell them about the Cullens they will tell him who really attacked him, who nearly killed him and that will put him and us in danger. If the Volturi find out he and his daughter know about the wolves and the Cullens they will send someone to kill them both and our tribe. You try to save Bella you condemn all of us and I will not allow you to do that. Its my job to keep the tribe safe and if that means killing you...I will."
Sam
I watched as Jake took this in, deciding reluctantly that I meant every word I said then his shoulders slumped,
"You know I really thought this tribe was worth something, that we had honour but we don't, we're as bad as the Cullens, living a lie."
"They didn't lie Jake. They have never hurt a human here. We have, we are the ones without honour because we couldn't keep our friends safe from our own demons. Go home Jacob, go home and think about what I've said. Talk to Billy, talk to the others, and you'll see they all say the same. Let things lie."
He stood fists clenched,
"She doesn't love you Jake and one day you'll find your own imprint."
"Imprint?"
"You'll be changing soon, the Cullens are still here and you're at the age so you'll become a guardian. Then you'll find the girl for you either here in our tribe or out in the world at large but either way it wont be Bella Swan."
I watched as he turned and walked away and I knew he'd heard the truth in my words, all the same I would put Jared to watch him and tell the others, I wouldn't allow Jacob to ruin it all.
Harry
When Sam told me about his conversation with Jake I backed the decisions he'd made and actions he'd taken. We had a peaceful existence with no problems with the Cold Ones and we had no intentions of losing the treaty if it could be avoided. Paul had come close, threatening it but I knew for all his faults that Carlisle was as eager as we were to keep the treaty intact. I rang Quil who agreed with me but asked that I speak to Billy personally. Only Billy came to the party and he told me Jake had come in very unhappy and shut himself in his bedroom putting his music on loud enough to drown everything else out.
"I asked him what was wrong but he wouldn't say."
"I take it his bad mood is because Bella didn't come. He has to accept that she isn't in love with him."
"I think it's who she's with that bothers him the most Harry."
"Well I understand that but its her decision. She's safe enough even if she doesn't know what he is and sooner or later he will be forced to tell her everything. That must make a difference Billy."
Billy stayed a while but his heart wasn't in it and I saw Seth wheeling him home a little later. If Charlie had come perhaps he would have made the effort but I knew he also felt very guilty that we were responsible for his friends injuries. It had been a terrible shock to us all but Sam had pointed out that the wolves were very edgy and he put it down to the fact the Cullens were interacting so closely with the human population of Forks, for that read Bella Swan. I decided that I'd better ask Sam to speak to Jacob again before things got totally out of hand but it was too late now, I'd ask him to visit first thing in the morning.
Sam
When I got to the cabin the next day Jake was there with his father and they were arguing about Bella over breakfast.
"Jake you heard what Sam said, you have to let it go son. Bella isn't the one for you and we can't start a war with the Cold Ones just so you can continue your childhood crush."
"So I let Bella go and what happens if she decides to stay with the Cullens? You think they'll let her continue as a human?"
"Its her choice Jake. They wont force her to do anything. I dislike Dr Cullen as much as anyone but I have to say he is an honourable man, he swore they would never bite a human and I believe him."
"Really? Well I don't."
"Jake its time you grew up and stopped this stupidity about Bella."
Jake's voice was getting lower and more husky as he spoke and then I heard Billy gasp,
"Jacob calm down please."
There was a deep rumbling growl and a scream as I rushed in to see Jake standing over his father who was no longer in his wheelchair but sprawled on the floor in a pool of blood. I phased quickly calling the rest of the pack to me and leapt on Jake's back. We fell snarling and snapping on the floor as the other wolves close by joined us pinning Jake's wolf form to the floor until he calmed enough to phase back then Jared went to Billy turning him over to reveal a terrible claw wound on his shoulder and chest much like Charlie's, his eyes wide with shock.
I sent Paul to bring Quil and Harry while Jared and Embry stood guard over a weeping Jake. He covered his face with his hands unable to look at his father and rocked himself back and forth mumbling the same word over and over, "NO, NO". Quil took in the scene instantly and instructed Harry and the boys to take Jake to my place then asked Sue and Emily who had also run over to look after Billy but realizing there would have to be a police presence it was arranged that Seth and Paul stay with Jake while the rest of us would take Billy to the edge of the trees and arrange him to look like he had also been the victim of an animal attack while the girls cleaned the cabin. We couldn't afford for it to be discovered that he had been injured in here, there would be no answering the questions in that case. As it was we took Billy gently over to the trees and arranged him on the ground tipping the wheelchair to appear he had been dragged from it and making sure there was enough blood to make the scene convincing before calling on the Bureau of Indian Affairs. They arranged for the Forks Police to take control of the scene until their agent arrived and I knew that Charlie would be informed even though he was still on sick leave so suggested that Harry should break the news to him first.