CHAPTER FOUR
The sun had risen behind the clouds an hour ago and the forest was now gray instead of black. Seth had ended up curling up beside Bella on the bed after eating the fried chicken Esme had gone out of her way to make him. He had woken up at dawn and traded off with Jacob. Even after running all night, Jacob was having a hard time making his brain shut down long enough to fall asleep, but Seth's rhythmic run was helping. One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four. The dull paw thuds against the damp earth were like some sort of lullaby. They were already wearing a trail into the ground. He could feel his eyes growing heavy, his head lolling on his extended paws.
Seth's thoughts were empty, just a blur of green and gray as the woods flew past him. It was restful. It helped to fill Jacob's head with what Seth saw rather than letting his own images take center stage. When he had managed to sleep he had dreamed of Bella. No big surprise there.
Suddenly Seth's piercing howl broke the early morning quiet.
Jacob lurched up from the ground, his front legs pulling toward a sprint before his hind legs were off the ground. He raced toward the place where Seth had frozen, listening with him to the tread of paws running in their direction.
Morning, boys.
A shocked whine broke through Seth's teeth. And then they both snarled as they read deeper into the new thoughts.
Go away, Leah! Seth groaned.
He stopped when he got to Seth, head thrown back, ready to howl again-this time to complain.
Right. Ugh! Ugh!He whimpered and pawed at the ground, scratching deep furrows in the dirt.
Leah trotted into view, her small gray body weaving through the underbrush.
Stop whining, Seth, you're such a baby.
Jacob growled at her, his ears flattening against his skull. She skipped back a step automatically.
What do you think you're doing, Leah?
She huffed a heavy sigh. It's pretty obvious, isn't it. I'm joining your crappy little renegade pack. The vampire's guard dogs.
She barked out a low, sarcastic laugh.
No, your not. Turn around before I rip out one of your hamstrings.
Like you could catch me.She grinned and coiled her body for launch, Wanna race, O fearless leader?
Jacob took a deep breath, filling his lungs until his sides bulged. Then, when he was sure he wasn't going to howl, he exhaled in a gust.
Seth, go let the Cullen's know that it's just your stupid sister-He thought the words as harshly as possible. I'll deal with this.
On it! Seth was only too happy to leave. He vanished towards the house, the thought of getting to see Bella rolling around in his head.
Leah whined and leaned after him, the fur on her shoulders rising. You're just going to let him run off to the vampires alone?
He's fine, he slept inside last night. They have no problem with him. It's you I'm worried about being here. He told her
Shut up, Jacob. Oops, I'm sorry. I meant, shut up, most high Alpha.
Why the hell are you here? he growled.
You think I'm just going to sit at home while my little brother volunteers to be a vampires chew toy? she snapped at him, looking towards the Cullen's house.
Seth doesn't want or need your protection. In fact, no one wants you here. he told her, worried about Bella, who Leah had never been afraid of insulting or telling her as it was. If she stressed Bella out, Barbie was going to tear through Leah's neck the first chance she got.
Ooh, ouch, that's gonna leave a huge mark. Ha! she barked. Tell me who does want be around, and I'm outta here.
So this isn't about Seth at all, is it?He said, digging into the deeper reason for her arrival.
Of course it is. I'm just pointing out that being unwanted is not a new thing to me. Not really a motivating factor, if you know what I mean.
Jacob gritted his teeth and tried to get his head straight.
Did Sam send you? His voice was filled with warning, with threat.
If I was here on Sam's errand, you wouldn't be able to hear me. My allegiance is no longer with him. She told him, sounding like she was proud of herself.
Jacob listened carefully to the thoughts mixed in with the words. If this was a diversion or a ploy, he had to be alert enough to see through it. But there was nothing. Her declaration was nothing but the truth.
Damn, he really wanted an excuse to tear into her.
You're loyal to me now? He asked with thick amount of sarcasm. Uh huh. Right.
My choices are limited. I'm working with the options that I have. Trust me, I am not enjoying this any more than you are. She told him rolling her shoulders.
That wasn't true. There was an edgy kind of excitement in her mind. She was unhappy about this, but she was also riding on some weird high from it too. He searched his mind, trying to understand.
She bristled, resenting the intrusion. He usually tried to tune Leah out so he had never tried to make sense of her before.
Yesterday you practically offered to kill Bella yourself. What was it that you said. Oh, yea. 'we can snap her neck, it will be quick' something like that?
They were interrupted by Seth, thinking his explanation at Edward. Leah whined anxiously. Edward's face, framed in the same window Rosalie had been in showed no reaction to the news. It was a blank face, dead of all emotion. Yet despite his appearance, they could hear the sound of humming and the smell of food cooking. Bella was up, the humming was from her. He could hear Rosalie plead with Bella to let one of them cook, for her to sit down and rest. Bella was having none of it.
"I'm fine, Rose, I can stand on my own two feet without help once in awhile and I am not going to be wheeled around in that chair Carlisle brought home last night. Plus, you always burn everything." they heard her say from the kitchen. Her voice was still hoarse, but she was lively as ever. If not more so.
She sounds ok, and besides being a little chilly she was fine last night when she was sleeping. So why is Edward so upset? Seth muttered to himself. The vampire showed no reaction to the thought either and disappeared into the house. Seth pivoted and headed back out to Jacob and Leah. Leah relaxed a little.
What's going on?Leah asked. Catch me up to speed.
There's no point. You're not staying.
Actually, Mr. Alpha, I am. Because since apparently I have to belong to someone, and don't think I haven't tried breaking off on my own and you know how well that works out, I choose you. she told him with a huff.
Leah, you don't even like me and I don't like you. He could barely stand her in Sams pack, it would only be worse having her around here.
Thanks, Captain obvious. That doesn't matter to me. I'm staying with Seth. she declared, plopping her furry but down.
You don't even like vampires and you've made it clear you don't like Bella. He snarled, not wanting her even in visual range of his imprint
You don't like vampires either. she wisely didn't mention Bella.
But I am committed to this alliance. You aren't. He explained.
I'll keep my distance from them. I can run patrols out here, just like Seth. she told him, trying to compromise so she could stay.
And I'm supposed to trust you with that? He asked, skeptically.
She stretched her neck, trying her best to be as tall as Jacob as she leaned up on her toes and stared him in the eyes. I will not betray my pack.
He wanted to throw his head back and howl, like Seth had done before. This isn't your pack! This is even a pack. This is just me, going off on my own! What is with you Clearwater's? Why can't you leave me alone?
Seth came up behind them and whined. Jacob had offended him. Just great.
I've been helpful, haven't I, Jake? he whined, his voice sounding like a child's, hurt.
You have. But you and Leah are a package deal, so if the only way to get rid of her is for you to go home….can you blame me? He said to Seth who gave a long whine.
Ugh, Leah, you ruin everything! He yelled at her.
Yea, I know, She told him, and the thought was loaded with the heaviness of her own despair.
Jacob felt the pain in three little words, and it was more than he would have guessed/ He didn't want to feel that. He didn't want to feel bad for her. Sure, the pack was rough on her, but she brought it on herself with the bitterness that tainted every thought she had, making being in her head a total nightmare.
Seth was feeling guilty too now. Just great. All he wanted was to sleep and to have breakfast, the order didn't really matter as long as he got one of them soon.
Jake...You're not gonna really send me away, are you? Leah's not so bad, really. I mean, with her here, we can push the perimeter out farther. And this puts Sam down to seven. There's no way he's going to mount an attack that outnumbered. It's probably a good thing-
You know I don't want to lead a pack, Seth. Jacob groaned, tired, hungry and annoyed.
So don't lead us. Leah offered.
Jacob snorted. Sounds perfect to me. If that's the case run along home now.
Jake, Seth thought. I belong here. I do like vampires. The Cullens anyway, and Bella. They're people to me, and I'm going to protect them, cause' that's what we're supposed to do.
Maybe you belong, kid, but your sister sure as hell doesn't. And she's going to go wherever you are-
He stopped short, because he saw something when he said that in Leah's mind. Something she had been trying very hard not to think about.
Leah wasn't going anywhere.
Thought this was about Seth, he thought sourly.
She flinched, caught red handed. Of course I'm here for Seth.
And to get away from Sam. He said what she didn't want to admit aloud.
Her jaw clenched. I don't have to explain myself to you. I just have to do what I'm told. I belong to your pack, Jacob. The end.
Jacob paced away from her, growling. This sucked.
He was never going to get rid of her. As much as she disliked him, as much as she loathed the Cullen's and Bella, as happy as she'd be to kill them all, as much as it pissed her off to have to protect them instead-none of it was anything compared to what she felt being free of Sam.
Leah didn't like Jacob, so it wasn't much of an insult having him wish she would disappear. But she loved Sam. Still. And having him wish she would disappear was more pain than she was willing to live with, now that she had a choice. She would have taken any other option. Even if it meant moving in with the Cullens as their lap dog.
I don't know if I would go that far,She snorted. I'm sure I'd give killing myself a few good tries first.
Look, Leah…
No, you look, Jacob. Stop arguing with me, because it's not going to do any good. I'll stay out of your way, okay? I'll do anything you want. Except go back to Sam's pack and be the pathetic ex-girlfriend he can't get away from. She sat on her haunches and stared straight into his eyes. If you want me to leave, your going to have to make me.
Jacob snarled for a long, angry minute. He was beginning to feel some sympathy for Sam, despite what he had done to him and to Seth. No wonder he was always ordering the pack around. How else would you ever get anything done?
Seth, are you going to get mad at me if I kill your sister?
The kid pretended to think about it for a long minute. Well...yeah, probably. Our Mom would be really sad if you did.
Jacob sighed. There was no way out of this.
Okay, Ms. Do-anything-I-want. Why don't you make yourself useful by telling us what you know? What happened after we left last night?
Lots of howling, but you probably heard that part. It was so loud that it took us a while to figure out we couldn't hear you anymore. Sam was...She was at a lost of words to describe how Sam had reacted, but they could see it in her head. Both Seth and Jacob cringed.
After that, it was clear pretty quick that we were going to have to rethink things. Sam was planning to talk to the Elders first thing this morning. We were supposed to meet up and figure out a game plan. I could tell he wasn't going to mount an attack right away. It would have been suicide at this point, with you and Seth AWOL and the bloodsuckers warned. I'm not sure what they'll do now, but I wouldn't be wandering the forest alone if I was a leech. It's open season on vamps now.
So, you decided to skip the meeting this morning? He asked.
When we split for patrols last night, I asked permission to go home, to tell my mom what had happened with Seth after he left chasing your tail-
Crap! You told Mom? Did you forget she's dating Charlie? Did you tell her that Bella's pregnant? he growled. Why would you do tha-
Seth, can you hold off on the sibling stuff for a sec. Go on, Leah. He went between them.
So, once I was human, I took a minute to think things through. Well, actually, I took all night. I bet the others all thought I fell asleep. But the whole two-separate-packs, two-separate-pack-minds thing gave me a lot to sift through. In the end I weighed Seth's safety and the, er, other benefits against the idea of turning traitor and sniffing vampire stink for who knows how long. Now I'm here, so you know already know what I decided. she took a breath. I left a note for my mom. I expect we'll hear it when Sam finds out…
Leah cocked an ear to the west, listening.
Yea, I expect we will. He agreed.
So that's everything. What do we do now?she asked, almost giddy to have any distraction.
She and Seth both looked at Jacob expectantly. This was the exact kind of thing he didn't want to do.
I guess we just keep an eye out for now. That's all we really can do. You should also probably take a nap, Leah. He sighed, though it was closer to a yawn at this point.
You've had as much sleep as I have.She countered.
Thought you were going to do what you were told? He glared at her.
Right. That's gonna get old real fast, she grumbled, and then she yawned. Well, whatever. I don't care.
I'll run the border, Jake. I'm not tired at all. Seth was so glad he hadn't forced them to go him, he was all but prancing with excitement.
Sure, sure. I'm going to go check with the Cullen's and maybe get some breakfast for us. Bella's cooking. He lifted his nose in the air, taking a deep breath of the smell of meat, grease, the sweet scent of pancake mix.
Seth, wanting to give Jacob a chance to eat, rest, and spend some time with Bella, took off along the new path worn into the damp earth they had made during last night. Leah looked after him thoughtfully before turning to Jacob.
Quick question, Jake,She said, and he gave his bust annoyed whine.
What? He didn't have a good feeling about this.
Why did you never tell Bella you imprinted on her. I know she asked you once if you had, I saw it in your mind. Why did you tell her you hadn't? She asked him, never understanding it.
Jacob looked towards the house, he could smell Bella still over the scent of breakfast.
Because I was overly confident. I thought she would choose me and I wanted her to do it of her own free will. I didn't want her to feel obligated to be with me because I imprinted on her. It wouldn't have felt right.
She's the first imprint to deny her wolf, I've never heard of that happening before.she pointed out.
We also never heard of a girl phasing before, but it happened. It's not impossible for a imprint to refuse the one who imprinted on her. She may not have chosen me to be her lover, but she did choose me to be her friend. He explained, shrugging her shoulders in the only way his body could.
Leah didn't say anything more as she had found a tree to go curl under.
Leaving her, Jacob went back to the house and phased back when he was a few yards from the lawn. He hadn't planned on spending much time as human here. But he hadn't been planning to have Leah in his head again either. He pulled on his ragged shorts and started across the lawn.
The door opened before he got to the steps and was surprised to see Bella, rather than Edward or even Carlisle. Rosalie as always was hovering behind her. Bella was wearing a dark green knit sweater, that despite its incredibly large size, looked like it fit her much better than what she had been wearing yesterday. She was also wearing some very comfortable looking skinny jeans, the fabric soft and warm. They were either fashionable maternity pants or they were altered by one of the Cullen's to fit her. Her hair was braided over her shoulder. It looked shinier,healthier than it had before. The sleep she had gotten last night must have helped.
"Perfect timing, I just finished cooking breakfast. I hope I cooked enough for Seth." she said, waddling like a penguin out the door. She stumbled and he raced to catch her, but before he could Rosalie had one hand holding her arm and the other wrapped just above Bella's swollen stomach.
"You have to be more careful, Bella, you could hurt the baby!" her voice was even, but her eyes were scolding.
"Sorry, Rose. Thanks for catching me." she smiled, trying not to flinch at how cold Rosalie was being. She had become very affectionate since she told her she was pregnant, but when it came to what was best for the baby she treated her like the enemy rather than the actual mother of said unborn baby.
"Do you want to come in, Jake, or we can eat outside if the smell is too much. I could use the fresh air," she smiled, looking at the small table on the porch.
"I tried to convince them that it wasn't what they thought, Bells, I swear. I defended him." He said, touching the sides of her stomach, feeling the swell there. He needed for her to know, needed her to believe him.
"You did?" she asked, and he could see the way her eyes went glassy, threatening to cry as she reached for him.
"I told them it wasn't as bad as it looked in my head, that it's just a baby." He could see it so clear how much it meant to know that he had defended not only her, but her child as well. A child that everyone but her and Rosalie wanted destroyed. "You said it yourself, it's a part of you. And If you love someone you should love every piece of them."
"Oh, Jacob." And then her arms were around him, her stomach pressed against the valley of his abs.
Surprised, Jacob didn't wrap his arms around her right away, but after a second to adjust to the feeling of having her in his arms again he was holding her as close as he could get her. She seemed even tinier than she had been before when he danced with her at her wedding. He felt the baby move against his stomach, but as odd as the feeling was he wasn't revolted by it, remembering the sound of the baby's heart and it's soft kicks against his hand. Most of all he remembered how happy Bella had been when he had, the way she had held his hand and moved it with the baby's every move.
In those moments she had treated him as if he were her husband and not Edward, trusting him and confiding in him in ways she couldn't with the leech. Somehow the sound of the little monsters heart had triggered his paternal instinct to protect. Who else would, what other male figure would even attempt to care for it when Edward wouldn't. All it had was Bella...and Rosalie, but he didn't trust her. He still wasn't sure that she wasn't just after the kid.
That wasn't saying there weren't things about the baby he still didn't need to overcome, questions that he needed to be answered about it, but for Bella's sake he would try to care about it as much as he could care for anothers mans unborn child. At least it was more than Edward was attempting. If this was what Bella needed from him, he would give it to her. It was going to be really weird and awkward, but he would give it a was his imprint after all.
"I'm glad you came back, despite the circumstances. I didn't think I would see you again" she said into his chest, and Jacob tried to keep his cool as he felt her warm breath on his skin.
"Yeah, me, either." he said in that soft, husky voice that made Bella feel warm.
"They told me what you had to do, not just about Sam wanting to…"
"S'okay. It was probably only a matter of time till I snapped over something Sam wanted me to do," He lied.
"What about, Seth?" she asked, hugging him tighter. "Esme said he came to see me last night but I was asleep. I can smell him on my pillows, he kept me warm. I have to thank him."
"That's good, I would have come in myself, but he really wanted to see you and one of us had to keep patrol. So far he's really happy to help."
"Is Seth out on patrol now?" She asked, letting go of him to look around him for the younger wolf, as if expecting him to appear.
"Yea, and Leah's taking a nap." he told her, his face a deep frown as he remembered Leah.
Bella's face paled a little when he mentioned her, something he didn't miss. Then again he didn't blame her, Leah wasn't exactly her number one fan.
"Why, is she with you?" she breathed, her eyes a little wild as she looked for the she-wolf, shrinking into Jacob.
"She's here keep an eye on Seth." he explained short and simple rather than give her the entire novelization. "Big sister you know."
"But, doesn't Leah hate me, and the Cullens?" he could see that she was afraid and he rubbed at her back, trying to get her to relax.
"Hate is such a strong word, she strongly dislikes you is more accurate." he said, trying to make light of the situation.
"'Strongly dislikes' is just a nice way of saying hate." she glares up at him, not buying it for one second.
"Are you sure I can trust her," she frowns, getting that little wrinkle between her eyebrows, her hands going protectively to her stomach.
"You're scared of Leah, who's in my pack," He looked at Rosalie. "but you're best buds with the psychopath Blonde?"
He didn't want to fight with her, but it was just so damn hard.
Rosalie hissed at him.
Bella frowned.
"Jacob, don't...I told you already, Rose….understands." she sighed. "And to be honest, when it comes to words, Leah is much more...hurtful."
"So Leah will hurt your feelings, you'll get over it but if your pregnancy does get worse and you die or something goes wrong, Barbie gets your kid out of the deal. Which is worse?"
"Stop being a jerk, Jacob, I don't want to fight with you." she said, her cheeks puffing a little.
"You say that likes it's possible not to," he tried to smile. "But seriously, Leah will be fine, she's going to steer clear of the house. She can't stand the smell."
"I don't want anyone to die for me, Jacob. If it comes to a fight, I'll find a way to run, I don't want any of you to get hurt….including Leah."
"How exactly do you, a heavily pregnant woman, plan to our run a group of wolves?" he asked, trying not to laugh.
"I'll take a car. Have you seen the Cullen's garage, I'm sure one of those things can outrun you guys." she shrugged.
"You just have it all planned out don't you." he smirked, shaking his head in astonishment.
"Kinda," she said with a secretive smile.
"Bella, your food is going to get cold." Rosalie reminded her.
"Well, are we going to eat inside or outside," she asked Jacob, looking at him the way he hated. Like he was her favorite person in the world.
"Let's go inside, it's warmer." he said when he noticed her start to shiver. She only nodded, sticking close to his side as they went in.
He didn't see any of the other vampires as they walked through the house towards the kitchen. He guessed they were all holed up stairs, at least that was where all the noises were coming from. He was also certain he heard the familiar sounds of someone playing Halo.
The scent of the food almost overpowered the stench of the vampires, and Jacob's mouth watered the closer they got. When they turned into the kitchen/dining room, the entire table was covered with plates of food from end to end.
"Dang, Bells, you've cooked enough to feed a small army. How long did this take?" he couldn't help but ask as he went to help Bella sit down at the head of the table, but Blondie beat him too it, glaring at him all the while and talking sweetly to Bella. Too bad she couldn't read his mind like Edward, she would have found some pretty colorful words about herself in there.
"Not as long as you would think, plus I like to cook. I also know how much you guys eat, I've seen it first hand. Do you think this is enough for all of you." she asked, concerned more about the rest of our appetites then her own.
"Trust me, this is enough" he said, admiring all off the food. Plates of bacon and ham, BLT's, bowls of scrambled eggs(They must have gotten more when Esme and Carlisle went out), mountains of pancakes and waffles, and pyramids of sausage.
"Have I told you I loved you today yet?" he asked, still staring at the food with his mouth hanging open.
"Not yet," she blushed.
"Well, I do. I love you so freaking much," he said before picking up a fork and picking things from the table and piling them onto his plate. Bella laughed, happy to see him so energetic over her food. And since she couldn't lean as far over the table because of her stomach, Rose helped her make her plate.
As they ate and they talked more about the situation, just to get it all out on the table, Bella made sure she monitored how much food was left, so that there would be enough for Seth and Leah.
The entire time Jacob and Bella ate, Rosalie watched them. Lucky for Jacob he was slowly becoming a master of ignoring people and tuning them out.
"So….Leah?" Bella suddenly said as, nibbling at the corner of a piece of toast smeared with peanut butter.
"Uh huh..Leah?" Jacob said slowly, not trusting where this could lead. He hated fighting with her just as much as she hated fighting with him,
"You never told me how she's been handling Sue and Charlie's relationship," she said not looking him in the eyes as she took a big gulp of her glass of milk.
"She doesn't like it. Thinks it's too soon after Harry died for her mom to be dating again." he told her, putting more pancakes on his plate and drowning them in syrup and butter.
"Oh," she bobbed her head absentmindedly. "That's a shame, they seem to make each other really happy."
"They do." Jacob assured her.
"That's really good. I'm sure Leah will come around eventaully. It was really weird when my mom started dating again. Or at least it was once I was old enough to realize what was going on." she mumbled.
"Renee didn't exactly wait too long after she left Charlie to jump back on the wagon, you know?" she said, cutting a piece of pancake.
"Do you know what she likes to eat?' she said after a peaceful amount of silence between them. They didn't always need to speak aloud, their eyes and smiles did just as much talking as their mouths.
"Who?" he looked up, a piece of bacon hanging between his teeth.
"Leah," she clarified, not looking at him. She felt so awkward talking about the other woman.
In a strange way she was more jealous and envious of Leah's beauty, her spirit than she was toward Alice, Esme or even Rosalie. She might ruin it all with her bad attitude, but Leah was so beautiful, and she got to spend her days with Jacob, inside his head, as if she was one with him. She was jealous of her, and it made her stomach turn to realize this. She had no right to feel this way, not when she had chosen Edward.
"Uh, just curious, Bells, but why d'ya want to know?" he asked.
"I get that she's only here because of Seth, if it wasn't for him she wouldn't bother even making an effort to help me, that she probably resents me for putting Seth in danger during the fight with the New Borns." she poked at her food, miserable about the whole thing, past and present.
"The point is, she hates me and I'm not exactly her biggest fan either. I get what she's been through, I know what she's been through, and I feel for her so I rather not have her completely miserable and pissed off while she's here. If I can make it a little bit easier for her, I will, starting by making her favorite foods." was her long explanation, stabbing the yoke of her sunny side egg and watching the yellow goo bleed out over the rest of her food.
"What animosity," Jacob whistled, surprised, impressed and a little annoyed that out of all the people that Bella didn't like, Leah, one of his pack, was one of them.
"Yeah, well I have enough people who don't like my baby, and I really don't need another one to add to the list." she shrugged.
Jacob wisely said nothing.