Added bit marked, only a couple of lines from the top here.
Chapter 54:
Cat's POV.
"You could be more gentle you know." I muttered. This was it, this was the deathly scolding I had always known was coming since I chose to help Bells.
Jacob didn't answer me, and I think that scared me more then if he had. He was obviously too angry to talk. I knew he was angry, his hand was getting hotter and it shook as it held my wrist tightly.
Jake lead me through the trees, away from the house before he stopped and turned to face me.
"What is wrong with you?" he said angrily, his whole frame shaking. "Are you seriously just going to sit back on the side lines and let her die! Watch her die no less?!" I didn't speak, I guessed he had a lot he wanted to shout at me before it as worth trying to explain myself.
"Working with that blonde who didn't give two shakes about Bella's life! Do you seriously not care about her at all? Do you only care about that… devil sporran."
My mouth dropped open in horror, I couldn't believe he actually just suggested I would think such a thing.
"If not then why are you not stopping her!? Why are you not holding back that bloodsucker and forcing it out of her?!" he continued, answering my expression.
"Why can't you be like Sophie and see that this is wrong! Why can't you be like your sister and see that you're wrong about your choices!"
I think I stopped listening now, I just clenched my fists, ground my teeth together and tried to keep the fire within me. Comparing me to Sophie, saying that I need to be more like her, was not a good place to head.
In school teachers had always said that, my grades were fine but not like Sophie's and I was more of a trouble maker. They'd always asked why I couldn't be more like her or said how they didn't believe we were twins. We were very different back in Miami.
No one had said such a thing here, in Forks or LaPush, no one had compared me to her.
Until now.
I wanted nothing more then to slap him across the face, or punch him. If he hadn't been the love of my life I think I would have broken something too, that was the only thing stopping me from hurting him terribly.
"No wonder she refuses to talk to you, you're being more irrational then usual." His words were making me angry now, I was so prepared to just stand and listen, know that it was because his best friend was dying that was making him to angry, I didn't want to make it personal, or let it get to me.
But he hit buttons I wasn't expecting him too, he'd made a bad choice and used the wrong insults.
I couldn't keep it in any more and the pressure was released when a tree next to me suddenly bursted into flames.
Jacob stopped talking and jumped staring at the tree. I'd been good at keeping my emotions in check, practice with my parents, so I probably didn't look pissed on the outside.
Jacob stared at me surprised
"You think you're angry!?" he said after a while
"After you bloody compared me to my stupid sister! Yes!" I finally shouted back. I think my sudden outburst surprised him
"You idiot!" I insulted him. "How dare you! How dare you say I don't give a rats ass about Bella's life, how dare you even suggest it, or even think it!" I shrieked at him "I can't believe after everything I've gone through with and for her you'd even consider that preposterous idea!"
"Then what?!"
"I wasn't bloody finished!" I shouted at him, he shut up as my hair bursted into flames and my eyes turned red.
"I am doing this because Bella begged me too." I emphasised the word "She begged me with her life to help her keep this child, she was so unhappy, so sad, so worried, so desperate. There was no bloody way I could say no to her, it was like to her this child was more important than her life! More important than anything and she was asking me to help protect it!"
"And you let her talk you into it?!" Jacob asked
"You're just like Sophie!" I shouted "She couldn't imagine such a terrible, heartbreaking situation either!"
"Maybe that's because this thing is not worth protecting!" Jacob said
"How the hell would you know?!" I shouted, my voice suddenly causing the burning tree to burn hotter.
"It's monster!"
"It's human too!" I reminded him, did everyone forget this one small fact. "And is everyone forgetting the fact that I have angels for parents that can probably heal anything!" I said seriously "Everyone is forgetting that there are all these options and no one can look at the high side of it. Bella has always believed she can do something, and she's bloody succeeded every time! I believe she can do this too! Not just because she's strong, but because there are seven vampires around her, all with venom that could fix her, as well as at least two angels!"
"All of you can only look at the negative! Like there's no option, like if a vampire's involved then nothing can be good! That vampire, despite what she's been through, if the best thing that ever happened to Bella!" I confessed. Jacob's expression soured more at that.
"If Bella is so desperate as to have begged me like she did then god help me if I don't comply to her wishes. I believe we can all save her, because she has so many people around her helping! My sister is bloody wrong. She hasn't looked at all the options, just the ones that stand out the most. She's letting her care for her friend blind her and I'll be damned if I'm going to be like that. So don't you dare compare me to her ever again!" I shouted at him, my voice was so cold it sounded impossible for someone as warm as me.
My sour mood had made everything around us seem wary, the burning tree was black and almost finished burning, the nature around us looked like it was dying from my sour mood, but none of this was my concern at the minute.
I'd had this conversation twice now, I was going to have to have it a heap more also. And each time I would get just as angry as the last, maybe even more. Why was it so hard to see that all the things I've listed held hope. Hope that Bella doesn't even know about either! They're all so blind! I don't understand.
Rose was completely irrelevant in all this, because I knew she really only cared for the child, but did everyone believe I thought the same? Did they seriously think I'd let Bella die for such a thing? I was only helping because she was so desperate for me too. A mother begging for her child's life to be spared, not caring about her own in the process. True love like it's supposed to be, the love of a mother for her unborn child. How could they all expect me to ignore that?
I took a deep breath and my fire all dispersed, my rant was done, well until he said something else.
"She's going to die." he said after a while of silence
"She's not." I disagreed "I wont let her."
"What power do you have to stop her?" Jacob asked "Some power I don't know about?"
"You can never rule such a thing out." I said seriously. Jacob stared at me, I guess he realised he couldn't talk me 'straight' just like he couldn't with Bella.
Knowing this, Jacob shook his head, and took off into the trees, trembling as he did.
I panted for a while as I felt him leave, he stripped off his clothes, forgetting all about his bike in the middle of the meadow and phased. I felt his four paws on the earth beneath him as he ran towards LaPush.
(Added bit):
I turned back towards the house, the fight replaying in my mind like a tape stuck on repeat. But then I saw something else.
I stopped.
It was me, in an rather beautiful gold gown, about fifteen years old, yelling at some guy. He wasn't nearly as good looking as Jake. He was a brunette, hazel eyes and dressed rather smartly. He didn't look any happier then I did.
This must have been another memory from my past. I'd had a few so far, but this was the first involving a guy.
I closed my eyes.
"I cannot believe you!" I shouted at him, throwing my hands in the air. "You get angry that I don't tell you something and then completely shut me down when I tell you the truth!"
"It's not the truth! You're making up excuses! If you found someone else then you could at least just tell me instead of making up ludicrous excuses!"
"Ludicrous!?" tears were rolling down my cheeks but the expression was anything but sad on my face. "You're supposed to believe me! I told you this wouldn't make sense! I told you it was wild!"
"It's embarrassing!" he hissed at me and I glared. "A girl your age making up stories to cover her tracks! If you can't be honest with me, then I believe we're done here."
I felt my eyes burning, and not from the tears as I saw him glare at me before turning and walking away. I looked down at a rock on finger and pulled it off angrily.
I opened my eyes surprised… I'd been engaged? At fifteen!
I shook my head. It was in past.
I looked to where Jacob had disappeared and frowned, after seeing that I realised how lucky I was to have Jake. I sighed, I felt bad for doing this to him, but if he could just see that this wasn't a lost cause, that there was a chance then everything would be fine.
At this rate, that seemed like wishful thinking.
Third Person's POV.
Sophie listened to the argument her twin had with her imprint, she was glad Jacob could see how this was a problem and didn't immediately side with Cat.
Maybe Jacob could talk her out of such a stupid thing, Sophie thought It's a long shot but worth it…
Sophie listened as Jacob ran away from the meadow and headed towards LaPush, his four paws pounding against the earth.
"And the secrets out," Sophie muttered, a few of the vampires in the room turned their attention to her.
"Oh shit!" Sophie suddenly said causing everyone to jump
"What?" Alice questioned
"The secrets out!" Sophie repeated, she hit herself in the forehead.
"Sophie, what's wrong?" Carlisle asked calmly
"He phased!" Sophie said "His mind's link with the rest of the pack, who are surely waiting for him because he ran off without warning."
"So?" Alice wondered
"So now they all know!"
"What's going on?" Cat asked entering the room
"You let him phase!" Sophie snapped at her twin
"So?"
"So now everyone knows what's happening here." Sophie said
"That's not explaining it," Cat said with a sigh. Sophie balled her fists
"The entire pack knows about the fetus, if we feel bad about it, feel it's a monster, how do you expect the pack to feel about it!?" Sophie said, Cat froze
"They're gonna find it a danger," she muttered
"Exactly, and like every blood drinking vampire, they're gonna believe it needs exterminating." Sophie explained
"It does," Alice muttered, earning a glare from Rosalie and Cat
"But the pack won't hesitate just because it's in Bella!" Sophie said seriously
"They'll kill her to get to it!" Edward realised. Cat was gone, out of the room the second the words were spoken, Sophie noticed her sister's absence and race out of the door after her.
Jacob's POV.
They were waiting. Of course they were.
Jacob, Jake, eight voices chorused in relief.
Come home now. the Alpha voice ordered. Sam was furious.
I felt Paul fade out, and I knew Billy and Rachel were waiting to hear what had happened to me. Paul was too anxious to give them the good news that I wasn't vampire chow to listen to the whole story.
I didn't have to tell the pack I was on my way — they could see the forest blurring past me as I sprinted for home. I didn't have to tell them that I was half-past crazy, either. The sickness in my head was obvious.
They saw all the horror — Bella's mottled stomach; her raspy voice: he's strong, that's all; the burning man in Edward's face: watching her sicken and waste away... seeing it hurting her; Rosalie crouched over Bella's limp body: Bella's life means nothing to her —and for once, no one had anything to say.
Their shock was just a silent shout in my head. Wordless.
!
I was halfway home before anyone recovered. Then they all started running to meet me.
It was almost dark — the clouds covered the sunset completely. I risked darting across the freeway and made it without being seen.
We met up about ten miles out of La Push, in a clearing left by the loggers. It was out of the way, wedged between two spurs of the mountain, where no one would see us. Paul found them when I did, so the pack was complete.
The babble in my head was total chaos. Everyone shouting at once.
Sam's hackles were sticking straight up, and he was growling in an unbroken stream as he paced back and forth around the top of the ring. Paul and Jared moved like shadows behind him, their ears flat against the sides of their head. The whole circle was agitated, on their feet and snarling in low bursts.
At first their anger was undefined, and I thought I was in for it. I was too messed up to care about that. They could do whatever they wanted to me for circumventing orders.
And then the unfocused confusion of thoughts began to move together.
How can this be? What does it mean? What will it be?
Not safe. Not right. Dangerous.
Unnatural. Monstrous. An abomination.
We can't allow it.
The pack was pacing in synchronisation now, thinking in synchronisation, all but myself and one other. I sat beside whichever brother it was, too dazed to look over with either my eyes or my mind and see who was next to me, while the pack circled around us.
The treaty does not cover this.
This puts everyone in danger.
I tried to understand the spiralling voices, tried to follow the curling pathway the thoughts made to see where they were leading, but it wasn't making sense. The pictures in the centre of their thoughts were my pictures — the very worst of them. Bella's bruises, Edward's face as he burned.
They fear it, too.
But they won't do anything about it.
Protecting Bella Swan.
We can't let that influence us.
The safety of our families, of everyone here, is more important than one human.
If they won't kill it, we have to.
Protect the tribe.
Protect our families.
We have to kill it before it's too late.
Another of my memories, Edward's words this time: The thing is growing. Swiftly.
I struggled to focus, to pick out individual voices.
No time to waste, Jared thought.
It will mean a fight, Embry cautioned. A bad one.
We're ready, Paul insisted.
We'll need surprise on our side, Sam thought.
If we catch them divided, we can take them down separately. It will increase our chances of victory, Jared thought, starting to strategise now.
I shook my head, rising slowly to my feet. I felt unsteady there — like the circling wolves were making me dizzy. The wolf beside me got up, too. His shoulder pushed against mine, propping me up.
Wait, I thought.
The circling paused for one beat, and then they were pacing again.
There's little time, Sam said.
But — what are you thinking? You wouldn't attack them for breaking the treaty this afternoon. Now you're planning an ambush, when the treaty is still intact?
This is not something our treaty anticipated, Sam said. This is a danger to every human in the area. We don't know what kind of creature the Cullens have bred, but we know that it is strong and fast-growing. And it will be too young to follow any treaty. Remember the newborn vampires we fought? Wild, violent, beyond the reach of reason or restraint. Imagine one like that, but protected by the Cullens.
We don't know— I tried to interrupt.
We don't know, he agreed. And we can't take chances with the unknown in this case. We can only allow the Cullens to exist while we're absolutely sure that they can be trusted not to cause harm. This... thing cannot be trusted.
They don't like it any more than we do.
Sam pulled Rosalie's face, her protective crouch, from my mind and put it on display for everyone.
Some are ready to fight for it, no matter what it is.
It's just a baby, for crying out loud.
Not for long, Leah whispered.
Jake, buddy, this is a big problem, Quil said. We can't just ignore it.
You're making it into something bigger than it is, I argued. The only one who's in danger here is Bella.
Again by her own choice, Sam said. But this time her choice affects us all.
I don't think so.
We can't take that chance. We won't allow a blood drinker to hunt on our lands.
Then tell them to leave, the wolf who was still supporting me said. It was Seth. Of course.
And inflict the menace on others? When blood drinkers cross our land, we destroy them, no matter where they plan to hunt. We protect everyone we can.
This is crazy, I said. This afternoon you were afraid to put the pack in danger.
This afternoon I didn't know our families were at risk.
I can't believe this! How're you going to kill this creature without killing Bella?
There were no words, but the silence was full of meaning.
I howled.
She's human, too! Doesn't our protection apply to her?
She's dying anyway, Leah thought. We'll just shorten the process.
That did it. I leaped away from Seth, toward his sister, with my teeth bared. I was about to catch her left hind leg when I felt Sam's teeth cut into my flank, dragging me back.
I howled in pain and fury and turned on him.
Stop! he ordered in the double timbre of the Alpha.
My legs seemed to buckle under me. I jerked to a halt, only managing to keep on my feet by sheer willpower.
He turned his gaze away from me.
You will not be cruel to him, Leah, he commanded her. Bella's sacrifice is a heavy price, and we will all recognise that. It is against everything we stand for to take a human life. Making an exception to that code is a bleak thing. We will all mourn for what we do tonight.
Tonight? Seth repeated, shocked. Sam — I think we should talk about this some more. Consult with the Elders, at least. You can't seriously mean for us to—
We can't afford your tolerance for the Cullens now. There is no time for debate. You will do as you are told, Seth.
Seth's front knees folded, and his head fell forward under the weight of the Alpha's command.
Sam paced in a tight circle around the two of us.
We need the whole pack for this. Jacob, you are our strongest fighter. You will fight with us tonight. I understand that this is hard for you, so you will concentrate on their fighters — Emmett and Jasper Cullen. You don't have to be involved with the... other part. Quil and Embry will fight with you.
My knees trembled; I struggled to hold myself upright while the voice of the Alpha lashed at my will.
Paul, Jared, and I will take on Edward and Rosalie. I think, from the information Jacob has brought us, they will be the ones guarding Bella. Carlisle and Alice will also be close, possibly Esme. Brady, Collin, Seth, and Leah will concentrate on them. Whoever has a clear line on — we all heard him mentally stutter over Bella's name — the creature will take it. Destroying the creature is our first priority.
The pack rumbled in nervous agreement. The tension had everyone's fur standing on end. The pacing was quicker, and the sound of the paws against the brackish floor was sharper, toenails tearing into the soil.
Only Seth and I were still, the eye in the centre of a storm of bared teeth and flattened ears. Seth's nose was almost touching the ground, bowed under Sam's commands. I felt his pain at the coming disloyalty. For him this was a betrayal — during that one day of alliance, fighting beside Edward Cullen, Seth had truly become the vampire's friend.
There was no resistance in him, however. He would obey no matter how much it hurt him. He had no other choice.
And what choice did I have? When the Alpha spoke, the pack followed.
Sam had never pushed his authority this far before; I knew he honestly hated to see Seth kneeling before him like a slave at the foot of his master. He wouldn't force this if he didn't believe that he had no other choice. He couldn't lie to us when we were linked
mind to mind like this. He really believed it was our duty to destroy Bella and the monster she carried. He really believed we had no time to waste. He believed it enough to die for it.
I saw that he would face Edward himself; Edward's ability to read our thoughts made him the greatest threat in Sam's mind. Sam would not let someone else take on that danger.
He saw Jasper as the second-greatest opponent, which is why he'd given him to me. He knew that I had the best chance of any of the pack to win that fight. He'd left the easiest targets for the younger wolves and Leah. Little Alice was no danger without her future vision to guide her, and we knew from our time of alliance that Esme was not a fighter. Carlisle would be more of a challenge, but his hatred of violence would hinder him.
I felt sicker than Seth as I watched Sam plan it out, trying to work the angles to give each member of the pack the best chance of survival.
Everything was inside out. This afternoon, I'd been chomping at the bit to attack them. But Seth had been right—it wasn't a fight I'd been ready for. I'd blinded myself with that hate. I hadn't let myself look at it carefully, because I must have known what I would see if I did.
Carlisle Cullen. Looking at him without that hate clouding my eyes, I couldn't deny that killing him was murder. He was good. Good as any human we protected. Maybe better. The others, too, I supposed, but I didn't feel as strongly about them. I didn't know them as well. It was Carlisle who would hate fighting back, even to save his own life. That's why we would be able to kill him—because he wouldn't want us, his enemies, to die.
This was wrong.
And it wasn't just because killing Bella felt like killing me, like suicide. And what about Cat? She was prepared to protect this thing! She'd get between everyone, and Sophie, though she didn't like the monster she cared for Bella.
My thoughts caused Embry to stop pacing.
Pull it together, Jacob, Sam ordered. The tribe comes first. he didn't seem to remember that the twins were imprints.
I was wrong today, Sam.
Your reasons were wrong then. But now we have a duty to fulfil.
I braced myself. No.
Sam snarled and stopped pacing in front of me. He stared into my eyes and a deep growl slid between his teeth.
Yes, the Alpha decreed, his double voice blistering with the heat of his authority. There are no loopholes tonight. You, Jacob, are going to fight the Cullens with us. You, with Quil and Embry, will take care of Jasper and Emmett. You are obligated to protect the tribe. That is why you exist. You will perform this obligation.
My shoulders hunched as the edict crushed me. My legs collapsed, and I was on my belly under him.
No member of the pack could refuse the Alpha.
Third Person's POV.
Cat and Sophie ran through the trees, following Jacob's scent. It was dark now — the sun having set completely.
They kept running, heading out of La Push, towards a clearing left by the loggers. It was out of the way, wedged between two spurs of the mountain, where no one could see.
This is bad! This is really bad! Would Sam really order an attack with us in the middle? Cat worried
He can't. This is one rule he can't break. Sophie said seriously
"Oh so you're talking to me now?" Cat asked. Sophie didn't answer
That didn't last long. Cat grumbled.
They entered the clearing, through the darkness they could see the wolves, all of them were getting into formation, Jacob laid on the ground with Embry and Quil by his sides.
"What's going on?" Sophie wondered quietly
"How am I meant to know?" Cat muttered
"Looks like they're going to attack…" Sophie noticed
"Great," Cat sighed "I don't want to fight them." she decided
"We can't, they can't." Sophie said strongly. The two watched as Jacob suddenly pushed off of the ground and shook his fur.
"I wish I knew what was going on, what they were thinking." Cat muttered I can't seem to tap into their thoughts…
"Nothing we can do about that." Sophie said plainly. The wolves began to move, most of them motivated but nervous, Jacob and Seth dragged behind as they moved in groups.
"Soph, I know you don't want to hurt Embry, I can't think of anything but, but we have to do something!" Cat said seriously
"Then make a wall, send a warning," Sophie said, trying not to let any emotion enter her voice as she spoke to her twin. Cat sighed and raised her hand, but stopped when she saw Jacob. He'd stopped, looked calmer, more relaxed.
"What are you waiting for?" Sophie asked
"Jake…" Cat muttered, Sophie turned and watched as Jacob walked up to Sam were he was standing with Jared and Paul.
No, Jacob said strongly, there was a tone in his voice that sounded like the authority Sam held. Sam jumped back a half step with a shocked yelp.
Jacob? What have you done?
I won't follow you, Sam. Not for something so wrong. Sam stared at Jacob, stunned.
You would… you would choose your enemies over your family?
They aren't, — Jacob began before he shook his head, as though he was clearing it — they aren't our enemies. They never have been. Until I really thought about destroying them, thought it through, I didn't see that.
This isn't about them, Sam snarled at Jacob. This is about Bella. She has never been the one for you, she has never chosen you, but you continue to destroy your life for her!
They were hard words, but true words. Jacob sucked in a big gulp of air, breathing them in.
Maybe you're right. But you're going to destroy the pack over her, Sam. No matter how many of them survive tonight, they will always have murder on their hands. Jacob reminded him
We have to protect our families! Sam said strongly
I know what you've decided, Sam. But you don't decide for me, not anymore. Jacob replied
Jacob — you can't turn your back on the tribe. Sam said seriously, his voice held the double echo of his alpha voice, but it didn't seem to effect Jacob like it had before. Sam clenched his jaw, trying to force Jacob into responding to his words. Jacob stared into Sam's furious eyes.
Ephraim Black's son was not born to follow Levi Uley's.
Is this it, then, Jacob Black? Sam began, His hackles rose and his muzzle pulled back from his teeth. Paul and Jared snarled and bristled at his sides. Even if you can defeat me, the pack will never follow you!
Now Jacob jerked back, a surprised whine escaping his throat.
Defeat you? I'm not going to fight you, Sam.
Then what's your plan? I'm not stepping aside so that you can protect the vampire spawn at the tribe's expense.
I'm not telling you to step aside.
If you order them to follow you —"
I'll never take anyone's will away from him.
The twins, able to hear their thoughts finally, stood surprised. No one had ever been able to defy the alpha voice, and yet, Jacob had found his own, given to him by his great grandfather.
Cat watched surprised, her arm still raised as she listened.
There cannot be more than one Alpha. The pack has chosen me. Will you rip us apart tonight? Will you turn on your brothers? Or will you end this insanity and join us again? Every word was layered with command, but it couldn't touch Jacob. Alpha blood ran undiluted in his veins.
There was never more than one Alpha male in a pack. Jacob's body was responding to the challenge. He could feel the instinct to defend his claim rising in him. The primitive core of his wolf-self tensed for the battle of supremacy.
Jacob focused all his energy to control that reaction. He would not fall into a pointless, destructive fight with Sam. He was his brother still, even though Jacob was rejecting him.
There is only one Alpha for this pack. I'm not contesting that. I'm just choosing to go my own way. Jacob admitted
Do you belong to a coven now, Jacob? Jacob flinched.
I don't know, Sam. But I do know this —
Sam shrunk back as he felt the weight of the Alpha in Jacob's tone. It affected Sam more than his touched Jacob. Because Jacob had been born to lead him.
I will stand between you and the Cullens. I won't just watch while the pack kills innocent — it was hard to apply that word to vampires, but it was true — people. The pack is better than that. Lead them in the right direction, Sam.
Jacob turned his back on him, and a chorus of howls tore into the air around him.
Digging his nails into the earth, Jacob raced away from the uproar he'd caused.
Cat ran off immediately, changing her course and heading in Jacob's direction. Sophie went to follow but stopped, looking back down at Embry's wolf form. He as the only one not howling in anyway, almost like he was stuck, confused on what to do next.
Sophie bit her lip before following her sister, her lip trembling a little. By doing this, it made her enemies with her soul mate.
"Jake!" Cat called as she ran, she felt Jacob's paws stop and the trees moved to reveal him. Cat threw her arms around his big neck.
"You alright?" she asked
What are you doing here? Jacob asked
"Sophie figured out that the pack wouldn't be happy with Bella's decision and we knew there'd be some sort of problem so we came to see what was up. I was gonna stop everyone when you walked up to Sam." Cat explained
You heard what happened?
"Only the bit about you gaining alpha powers." Cat smirked "Chief Jacob." Jacob huffed.
"Yeah, good job." Sophie muttered as she appeared, Cat immediately felt awful
"Oh Soph, are you alright?" Cat asked, Sophie glared at her and left, heading for the Cullen's house.
"Jeez. This better stop eventually." Cat grumbled. She pulled herself up onto Jacob's back
"Come on, we need to hurry." she reminded him, and Jacob shot off after Sophie. The howling faded with the distance as they ran to warn the Cullens of the uproar.
They ran in silence for a while, Jacob deep in thought before the sound they'd been worried about began to increase from behind them and Cat turned her head to look through the trees Jacob was racing past — it was the soft impact of big paws against the ground, chasing after them.
Jacob threw himself forward, thrusting Cat forwards as he did, rocketing through the black forest. They just had to get close enough so that Edward could hear the warning in Jacob's head. Leah wouldn't be able to stop them alone.
Cat felt the vibrations from behind them through Jacob, and immediately knew who it was.
"Jacob wait!" Cat said as she sat up, Jacob broke his stride, he staggered for two steps before it evened out again.
Wait up. My legs aren't as long as yours. Seth spoke
SETH! What do you think you're DOING? GO HOME! Jacob ordered
"Jake," Cat disagreed
Seth didn't answer, his excitement was building as he kept right on after Jacob.
Jacob slowed down before he realised it and Seth was at Jacob's flank, running in position beside him.
"Hey Seth," Cat smiled
Don't encourage him! Jacob disapproved I am not joking, Seth! This is no place for you. Get out of here. The gangly tan wolf snorted.
I've got your back, Jacob. I think you're right. And I'm not going to stand behind Sam when—
Oh yes you are the hell going to stand behind Sam! Get your furry butt back to La Push and do what Sam tells you to do.
No.
Go, Seth!
Is that an order, Jacob? You going to make me attack Cat too? Seth added
His question brought Jacob up short. He skidded to a halt, his nails gouging furrows in the mud. Cat leaned forwards and almost fell over his head.
"Shit," she muttered
I'm not ordering anyone to do anything. I'm just telling you what you already know. Seth plopped down on his haunches beside the two.
I'll tell you what I know — I know that it's awful quiet. Haven't you noticed?
"There are no extra thoughts…" Cat muttered, listening through their heads.
They haven't phased back, Seth said. There was no way they'd do that, the pack would be on red alert now. They would be using the mind link to see all sides clearly.
Looks to me like separate packs aren't linked. Huh. Guess there was no reason for our fathers to know that before. 'Cause there was no reason for separate packs before. Never enough wolves for two. Wow. It's really quiet. Sort of eerie. But also kinda nice, don't you think? I bet it was easier, like this, for Ephraim and Quil and Levi. Not such a babble with just three. Or just two.
"Seth, you're the one babbling." Cat smirked
Well yeah, but other then that, I mean, when they're on patrol or something there would just be—
Shut up, Seth. Jacob grumbled
Yes, sir. if Seth had been human, he might have saluted.
Stop that! There are not two packs. There is THE pack, and then there is me. That's all. So you can go home now. Jacob disagreed
If there aren't two packs, then why can we hear each other and not the rest? I think that when you turned your back on Sam, that was a pretty significant move. A change. And when I followed you away, I think that was significant, too.
You've got a point, Jacob conceded. But what can change can change right back.
Seth got up and started trotting toward the east.
No time to argue about it now. We should be moving right along before Sam… He was right about that part. There was no time for this argument. Jacob fell into a run again, not pushing himself quite as hard. Seth stayed on his heels, holding the Second's traditional place on Jacob's right flank.
Cat smiled, glad that Seth had enough heart to know attacking Bella for something that could potentially be innocent was wrong.
I can run somewhere else, Seth thought, talking about his spot in the second traditions position, his nose dipping a little. I didn't follow you because I was after a promotion.
Run wherever you want. Makes no difference to me. Jacob replied
"Stop being mean to him. He's allowed to have his own beliefs like you." Cat said annoyed at Jacob's behaviour.
You can't talk to me about what to believe in. Jacob said strongly, he was still angry with her. Cat huffed
"Doesn't help when you don't even try to understand."
I don't want to!
What… Seth began
"Nothing." Cat sighed, not wanting to go through another yelling match with Seth.